Thar Desert

Thar Desert Latest News

The Thar Desert in India saw a striking 38 percent rise in greening annually over the last two decades, driven by a significant increase in monsoon rainfall and agricultural expansion, a new study showed.

About Thar Desert

• The Thar Desert, also called the Great Indian Desert, is a large, arid region located in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent.
• It is considered to be the 9th largest subtropical desert in the world. 
• It lies mostly in the Indian state of Rajasthan. 
• The desert also extends into the southern portion of Haryana and Punjab states and into the northern part of Gujarat.
• A portion of the desert (15 percent) lies in the Punjab and Sind regions of Pakistan.
• It covers some 200,000 sq.km. of territory. 
• The name Thar is derived from thul, the general term for the region’s sand ridges.
• Boundaries: 
  • It is bounded on the north-west by the Sutlej River and on the east by the Aravalli Mountain Ranges.
  • It is also bounded on the south by thesalt marsh known as the Rann of Kutch district, and on the west by the Indus Valley. 
• About a tenth of the ecoregion is sand dunes, while the rest is craggy rock formations and compacted salt lake bottoms. 
• It does not have any Oasis which is unusual compared to other large deserts. 
• Climate: 
  • The Thar Desert has an extreme climate:
  • Summers are very hot, with temperatures reaching 50°C.
  • Winters are cold, with temperatures dropping to near freezing.
  • Rainfall is very low, between 100–500 mm per year, mostly during the monsoon season.
  • Strong dust storms are common in the summer.
• There is a single river that flows through the desert, the Luni River.
• The sparse vegetation consists of plants adapted to growing in dry conditions, known as xerophilous plants.
• It is the most densely populated desert in the world (83 people per sq. km).
• Mineral Resource:
  • It is rich in a variety of minerals, including one of the largest coal reserves in India.
  • It is also a major source of gypsum, Limestone, salt, Bauxite, silica, etc.

Thar Desert FAQs

Q1. Where is Thar Desert located?

Ans. The Thar Desert, also called the Great Indian Desert, is a large, arid region located in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent.

Q2. What is the approximate area covered by the Thar Desert?

Ans. 200,000 sq. km

Q3. Which river bounds the Thar Desert on the northwest?

Ans. Sutlej River

Source: DTE