Thar (opportunities and challenges of developing hot deserts) Flashcards
What countries does the Thar desert stretch over?
North-west India and into Pakistan
What area does the Thar desert cover?
200,000 km^2
What is significant about the Thar desert, in terms of population?
It is the most densely populated desert in the world
What is the annual rainfall in the Thar desert?
100-240 mm
What temperature can temperatures reach in July in the Thar desert?
53 degrees centigrade
Describe the soil in the Thar desert
Sandy, not very fertile and with little organic matter
Describe the landscape in the Thar desert
Sandy hills, sandy dunes, clumps of thorn forest vegetation (small trees, shrubs and grasses)
Name four opportunities for development in the Thar desert
Mineral extraction
Energy
Tourism
Farming
What from the Thar desert is used for making plaster in the construction industry?
Gypsum
What does the Thar desert supply as the main source for India’s steel industry?
Limestone
What are there extensive deposits of in parts of the Thar desert?
Coal
What has been discovered in the Barmer district?
A large oilfield
What are the conditions in the Thar desert perfect for?
Solar power
What is solar power used for in Bhaleri?
Water treatment
Name India’s largest wind farm, found in the Thar desert
Jaisalmer wind park
How many visit the Thar desert each year?
Tens of thousands - especially to festivals and desert safaris, with many from neighbouring Pakistan
What has commercial farming been made possible by?
Irrigation
What do most people in the desert depend on for survival?
Subsistence farming
Grazing animals
Cultivating vegetables and fruit trees
What now thrive in an area that used to be scrubby desert, after the construction of the Indira Ghandi Canal?
Wheat and cotton
Name three challenges of developing in a hot desert
Extreme temperatures
Water supply
Accessibility
What leads to water shortages in the Thar desert?
Rapid evaporation due to heat
What causes high rates of evaporation?
Strong winds and high temperatures
Why is demand for water increasing in the Thar desert?
Population growth
Industry development
Agricultural development
Why is accessibility in the Thar desert a difficulty?
There is limited road access
What affects roads in the Thar desert?
High temperatures melt the tarmac, whereas strong winds blow sand over them
What are many places only accessible by?
Camel
