where do hampsters live in the wild?

Widespread from Europe to China and to the Middle East.

Hamsters originally live in semi-desert conditions and so they are nocturnal by nature (ie they sleep in the day time and forage at night time when it's cooler in the desert). Hamsters like rabbits and most desert dwelling mammals live in burrows (it's much cooler to live underground when the heat is scorching in the daytime). Like a lot of nocturnal creatures, hamsters haven't got great eyesight - they don't really utilize it at night, they rely mainly on their sense of smell and hearing to detect danger or find food. Bear this nocturnal habit in mind when you decide whether or not to place your hamster cage in the bedroom, if you are a light sleeper, chances are you will be kept up by the squeaking of the exercise wheel all night!

Syrian hamsters originate in the syrian desert, they are land dwellers and live in burrows, coming out in the evening to search for food.

They live mainly in desert areas and live in burrows underground.

That is why there has never been a proper cage made to mimic the natural area in which they live.