The Desert Land of India

The Desert Land of India

Chapter 1

What is a desert?

A desert is an unproductive land.

It may be hot or cold.

Hot desert = Dry and sandy

Cold desert = Icy and dry

The Great Indian Desert - A hot, sandy and dry one!

It is also known as the Thar Desert.

Location - North-west of Rajasthan

Aravalli Hills

• Thar Desert is to the north-west of the Aravalli Hills.

• They act as a barrier between the Thar Desert and eastern Rajasthan.

• They don't allow the moisture-laden winds to enter the desert.

Climate - Very Hot and Dry

• Sand gains and loses heat quickly!

• Extremely hot summers and biting cold winters

• Rainfall is very scanty (< 25 cm per annum)

• Loo - A hot, dry wind blows in a desert

Physical Features of a Desert - SANDSTORM

• Strong winds called sandstorms blow over the sand and shift it from one place to other. These strong winds are called sandstorms.

• The shift causes small sand hills which are called sand dunes.

Crescent shaped sand dunes = Barchans

Long ridge shaped sand dunes = Seif dunes

Sambhar Lake

A salt lake in the desert region

When it rains in a desert, depressions are formed, making lakes.

Water bodies in the desert region

• Temporary streams, rivers - formed due to rainfall, which disappear in the sand

• Luni - The only seasonal river - It crosses the sandy desert, moves through the Rann of Kutch and joins the Arabian Sea

Oases - Areas in a desert where water is found and agriculture is carried out

Vegetation in a desert

• Cacti

• Babul trees

• Date palms

• Thorny bushes, etc

Life in the Desert

• Conditions in a desert which affect humans are adverse climate, extreme temperature, scanty rainfall and scarcity of water

• People settle mostly around oases.

• Main occupations - Animal rearing and mining

Animal rearing - Looking after animals, raising them for use

Mining

• Minerals found in the desert are:

• Copper

• Silver

• Limestone

Banjaras

Some people lead a nomadic life, travelling from place to place looking for food and to sell their handicrafts.

Caravan

People travel on camels, across the desert in groups. These groups are known as caravans.

Ship of the desert - Camel

• The most suitable animal to travel across a desert is a camel.

• It can live without water for many days.

• It has padded feet which helps him to walk in the sand easily.

The Indira Gandhi Canal

• It is also known as the Rajasthan Canal.

• It brings water from rivers Satluj, Beas and Ravi.

• The dams which provide water are Bhakra-Nangal Dam and Pong Dam.

How to travel in a desert?

It is difficult to construct roads and railway lines in a desert.

Cities like Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Ganganagar are connected by roads.

Handicrafts

• Stone work

• Tie and dye

• Embriodery

• Bidri work (stone carving)

• Jewellery making

• These items are exported to other countries.

Dressing of the Rajasthanis

Men wear dhotis, kurtas and colourful turbans.

Women wear ghagras and cholis, with odhnis.

Major religions followed in Rajasthan

Important facts

Language spoken is Rajasthani.

Folk dances are Kalbelia, Chari, Ghoomar, Fire and Kachchi Ghori.

Important festivals celebrated are Teej, Urs and Gangaur.

Fairs organized are Puskar Mela and Cattle fairs.

Importance of the Great Indian Desert

• Famous Rajput kings called Ranas made many forts at Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Chittorgarh and Ajmer.

• Famous tourist centres are Dilwara Temples and Mount Abu.

• Marbles and sand stones are exported.