Write a short note on the great Indian desert.
Answers
The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent that covers an area of 200,000 km2 (77,000 sq mi) and forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan. It is the world's 17th largest desert, and the world's 9th largest subtropical desert.
About 85% of the Thar Desert is located within India, with the remaining 15% in Pakistan.[1] In India, it covers about 170,000 km2 (66,000 sq mi), and the remaining 30,000 km2 (12,000 sq mi) of the desert is within Pakistan. The Thar desert forms approximately 5% (c. 4.56%) of the total geographic area of India. More than 60% of the desert lies in the Indian state of Rajasthan, and it extends into the states of Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana, and the Pakistani province of Sindh.[2] Within Pakistan's Punjab province, the Thar continues as the Cholistan Desert.[3] The desert comprises a very dry part, the Marusthali region in the west, and a semidesert region in the east with fewer sand dunes and slightly more precipitation.
The Thar Desert extends between the Aravalli Hills in the north-east,[1] the Great Rann of Kutch along the coast and the alluvial plains of the Indus River in the west and north-west. Most of the desert area is covered by huge shifting sand dunes that receive sediments from the alluvial plains and the coast. The sand is highly mobile due to strong winds occurring before the onset of the monsoon. The Luni River is the only river integrated into the desert.[5] Rainfall is limited to 100–500 mm (4–20 in) per year, mostly falling from July to September.[1]
Salt water lakes within the Thar Desert include the Sambhar, Kuchaman, Didwana, Pachpadra and Phalodi in Rajasthan and Kharaghoda in Gujarat. These lakes receive and collect rain water during monsoon and evaporate during the dry season. The salt is derived by the weathering of rocks in the region.[6]
Lithic tools belonging to the prehistoric Aterian culture of the Maghreb have been discovered in Middle Paleolithic deposits in the Thar Desert.
Answer:
Explanation:
About 85% of the Thar Desert is located within India, with the remaining 15% in Pakistan. In India, it covers about 170,000 km2 (66,000 sq mi), and the remaining 30,000 km2 (12,000 sq mi) of the desert is within Pakistan. The Thar desert forms approximately 5%(~4.56%) of the total geographic area of India. More than 60% of the desert lies in the state of Rajasthan, and extends into Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. The desert comprises a very dry part, the Marusthali region in the west, and a semidesert region in the east with fewer sand dunes and slightly more precipitation.
The Indian Desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravalli Hills. It is a sandy plain. It is considered as the hottest region in the country. It has high range of temperature as days are hot and nights are cold. While the temperature may reach up to 500C during summers, the temperature may drop down to 00C during winters. The region receives scanty rainfall which is usually less than 250mm. Rainfall, generally, occurs in the months of July and August. Luni is the only notable river in the region. Barchans (crescent shaped sand dunes) largely cover the area.
(i) The Indian Desert (a) The Indian desert lies towards the Western margin of the Aravali hills. (b) It is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes. (c) This region receives very low rainfall, below 150 mm per year. (d) It has arid climate with low vegetation cover. (e) Streams appear during the rainy season. Soon they disappear into the sand as they do not have enough water to reach the sea. (f) Luni is the only large river in this region. (g) Barchan (Crescent shaped duners) cover the larger areas but longitudinal dunes become more prominent near the Indo-Pakistan border. (h) The Indian desert is popularly known as the Thar desert.