Thar Desert Case Study Flashcards
Where is the location of the Thar Desert Case Study?
Thar Desert, India, Asia
What topic is the Thar Desert Case Study part of?
Living World
What are the 4 different opportunities for the Thar Desert Case Study?
1) Mineral Extraction
2) Tourism
3) Farming
4) Energy
Why is ‘Mineral Extraction’ an opportunity for the Thar Desert Case Study?
Limestone and gypsum (for making plaster) are valuable for the building industry.
Why is ‘tourism’ an opportunity for the Thar Desert Case Study?
Jaisalmer is a desert city. Tourists visit because of its large fort and because it is often used as a base to explore by camel safari or quad bikes.
Why is ‘farming’ an opportunity for the Thar Desert Case Study?
Subsistence farmers grow enough food for themselves and their families by planting crops and rearing goats.
Commercial farmers use irrigation from the Indira Ghandi Canal meaning crops such as cotton and wheat can be grown.
Why is ‘energy’ an opportunity for the Thar Desert Case Study?
Close to Jaisalmer is the largest wind turbine farm in India.
There are also plans to develop a huge solar farm across the desert e.g. Bhadla will be 40 sq km. Over 1000 people employed, 4 in 10 are locals.
What are the three challenges of the Thar Desert Case Study?
1) Extreme temperatures
2) Inaccessibility
3) Water supply
Why is ‘extreme temperatures’ a challenge for the Thar Desert Case Study?
Temperatures can exceed 50°C in the Summer months. It is hard to farm during these months making development difficult.
Why is ‘inaccessibility’ a challenge for the Thar Desert Case Study?
There are few roads, making it difficult for industry.
Tarmac can melt in the extreme heat and the sand often blows over, covering the roads.
Why is ‘water supply’ a challenge for the Thar Desert Case Study?
120-240mm of rain falls per year affecting farms etc.
The population has grown by a third recently to 600,000 as it attracts workers meaning more water is used.
Salinisation is when over-irrigation causes a layer of salt on the surface due to rapid evaporation. This is toxic making it difficult to grow crops.
