It is known that early explorers thought of Nebraska as a vast American desert. However, it's been a long time since the term has been associated with the Cornhusker State. In this modern era, Nebraska's green rolling hills and wide expanses of farmland are what define the landscape. Yet in one small corner of Nebraska, there is a thriving desert that also happens to be the largest indoor desert in the world.

The Desert Dome in the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo is home to the largest indoor desert in the world, housed under the largest glazed geodesic dome in the world. It's a marvel of engineering and design that's impressive even from the outside.

The dome opened in 2002, offering a fascinating addition to the already wonderful zoo. The dome was three years in the making, and a lot of creative engineering went into designing this unique structure and its exhibits.

The Desert Dome rises 13 stories above the ground and covers a full acre of land without utilizing any interior support columns.

Inside, there are exhibits displaying three different desert regions from around the world: the Namib Desert of southwestern Africa, the Red Center in central Australia, and the Sonoran Desert of the southwest United States and northwest Mexico.

A 55-foot-tall central mountain divides the three sections of the desert. You’ll find it hard to believe that you’re viewing such true-to-life desert displays inside a man-made dome.

There is abundant plant and animal life from all around the world housed inside this big dome. It'll be easy to forget that you're indoors – in Nebraska – as you wander through the exhibits looking at exotic snakes, giant cacti, and huge sand dunes and cliffs spanning 84,000 square feet across two levels.

For people who have grown up residing within the green agricultural landscapes of Nebraska, the Desert Dome in Omaha is a completely alien landscape. It's warm and dry in the dome year-round, so if you visit the zoo in the winter or on a rainy day, it makes for a surprisingly refreshing change of pace.

However, it's rarely uncomfortably hot, even in the summer with the sun shining through the dome's glass panels. There are also many shady areas within the various desert exhibits.

Take your time to admire and explore as you traverse the winding route through the desert. Along your journey, you'll likely see some unfamiliar animals, such as these klipspringers from Africa.

You'll also see a surprising variety of beautiful birds and vibrant plant life all throughout the Desert Dome.

The Desert Dome offers a rare glimpse into a unique environment that the average person is unlikely to experience anywhere else in their lifetime.

It's exciting to observe exotic animals from around the world; animals that you may have only read about are hanging out in their natural habitats, right in Omaha, Nebraska!

Just watch out for the judgmental meerkats. They'll have their eyes on you!

And as if having two "world's largest" attractions in one place wasn't enough, underneath the Desert Dome is the world's largest nocturnal exhibit: Kingdoms of the Night. Here, you can get up close to porcupines, armadillos, beavers, several species of bats, alligators that occupy the underground swamp, and other animals. If you're extra lucky, you may even spot the albino alligator!

Have you visited the Desert Dome in the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo? How about the underground Kingdoms of the Night Exhibit? If so, we'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.

And if you love watching animals but don't want to deal with the crowds at the zoo, you can take a trip through the zoo's wildlife safari in Ashland.