Chapter 9- Life in the desert

Question 1

Desert

Answer 1

Desert is an arid region
Extremely high or low temperature
Has scarce vegetation

Question 2

Sahara Desert

Answer 2

Worlds Largest desert
Area of 8.54 million sqkm
Touches 11 countries
It has gravel plains and elevated plateaus up to 2500m

Question 3

Sahara desert - Climate

Answer 3

Extremely scorching hot patched dry
Short rainy seasons
Sky is cloudless and clear
moisture evaporates faster than it accumulates
During the day - the temperature is up to 50C
The sand and rocks heat up and radiate heat
nights can be 0C

Question 4

Sahara Desert - Flora and Fauna

Answer 4

Vegetations include - Cactus, date palms
there are oasis(green island with date palms around)
Faunas - Camels, Hyenas, Jackals, Foxes

Question 5

Sahara Desert - People

Answer 5

Bedouins and Tuaregs are Noramidic tribes and rear animals and provide milk, leather, and fur
People were heavy robes to protect them from storms and dust
River Nile and oasis supports settled population
Since water is available people grow date palms, rice, wheat and famous Egyptian cotton
Oil is also in the sahara as well as the minerals like iron
phosphorus, uranium
glass cased office buildings, super highways, trucks are some of the changes in sahara
Tuaregs act like guides to foreign tourists
Herdsmen are taking up city life and jobs in the oil and gas operations

Question 6

Ladakh

Answer 6

• It is a cold desert in J and K
• from North is karakoram
• from south is Zanskar Mt.
• several rivers flow through ladakh specially Induas
• several glaciers are there as well as gangri glacier
• altitude varies from 3000km in kargil with 8000km in karakoram

Question 7

Ladakh- climate

Answer 7

• The climate is mostly dry and cold
• in summers the temp at day is above 0
• At night it is -30
• it lies in the rainshadow of the Himalayas and receives low rainfall

Question 8

Ladakh- Flora and Fauna

Answer 8

• due to high aridity the vegetation is sparse
• there are patches of grass and shrubs for animals to graze
• groves of willows and poplars
• during summers fruits such as apples walnuts bloom
• robins, redstarts and robins are some birds here
• Animals here are yaks and wild goats and sheeps
• Animals are for milk, meat and hides

Question 9

Ladakh- People

Answer 9

Muslims or buddhists
a lot of gompas and monasteries
in summer people cultivate barley peas potatoes turnip
Winter is harsh so people engage in ceremonies and festivities
Women manage not only houses and fields but business too
Several tourists from abroad and India
Due to the scarcity of resources like water and fuel they are used with care