Question

difference between the Sahara desert and the Ladakh Desert with respect to location ,climate and vegetation?

Answer 1

Sahara

It is the largest low-latitude hot desert in the world. It is the third largest desert after Antarctica and the Arctic. Its area is comparable to the area of the United States or China. It covers a large part of North Africa. It mainly has rocky plateaus. Sand dunes form only a minor part. Many of the sand dunes are more than 180 metres high.

Ladakh

It is a cold desert. It is located in Jammu and Kashmir and extends from the Kunlun mountain range to the main Great Himalayas to the south. It is the highest plateau in the state. It is very sparsely populated. It is known for its mountain beauty and culture. The mountain ranges in this area were formed by the folding of the Indian plate into the more stationary Eurasian Plate. Frequent earthquakes occur in the region. 

Answer 2

Answer -

$\textbf{\huge{\underline{\underline{Location}}}}$

★$\large{\bold{\underline{LADAKH : }}}$★


• Ladakh is a cold , rocky desert which lies in the Himalayan ranges in the northern most part of India.

• It is bounded in the north by the Karakoram range and in the South by the Zanskar mountains.

• Ladakh covers and area of about 45,110 sq.km which is divided into two districts Leh and Kargil .

★$\large{\bold{\underline{SAHARA : }}}$★

• Sahara desert lies in the African continent.


• It extends from Atlantic ocean in the West to the Red Sea in the East.


• In the North it bounded by the Atlas Mountains and the Mediterranean sea.


• It merges with the Savannah grasslands in the South.


• Sahara desert touches 10 countries -

» Algeria
» Chad
» Egypt
» Libya
» Mali
» Mauritania
» Morocco
» Niger
» Sudan
» Tunisia

$\textbf{\huge{\underline{\underline{CLIMATE}}}}$

★$\large{\bold{\underline{LADAKH : }}}$★

• Ladakh is extremely cold and dry because it is situated in high altitude.

• During summers the day temperature stage of few degrees about zero and the night temperature drops below - 30°

• It received less than 10 centimetre annually because it lies in the rain Shadow area of Zanskar range.

★$\large{\bold{\underline{SAHARA : }}}$★

• The climate in Sahara desert is extremely harsh and dry which is continuously changing its temperature range.

• In the absence of the cloud cover the land tends to get heated up fast and at night it rapidly loses that heat.

• As a result , the days in the Sahara are scorching while the nights are chilly.

• This region receives less rainfall because of the rain bearing winds from the Atlantic ocean lose much of the moisture till the time they reach Sahara.

$\textbf{\huge{\underline{\underline{VEGETATION}}}}$

★$\large{\bold{\underline{LADAKH : }}}$★

•Vegetation cover is mainly found around the river valleys while the higher altitude pastures, which is above 4000m , only mosses, lichens gentians grow.

• Pencil cedar , Yam , Elm , Cypress , Poplars and willows are commonly found.

• Besides during the summer season apples, apricots and walnuts are grown.

★$\large{\bold{\underline{SAHARA : }}}$★

• The plants here have adapted themselves to the harsh conditions.

• The land is home to xerophytic plants.

• The plants have long roots ( so that they can reach the most humid layers of Earth ) waxy leaves and spines ( reduce Transpiration) with fleshy systems.

• Date palms are the most important part for the people of this region because the fruits are the energy food.

• Other plant species found this region included phoran variety of grass, oleander, artemisia, thyme, acacia , boabab and cactus.

• Mediterranean plants such as olives , figs and apricots near the Oasis ( the water bodies in arid areas , occuring when the water table reaches the surface )