The Living World: Thar Desert Flashcards
Where is it located?
- north-west India
- north of the Tropic of Cancer
- south of the Himalayas
What are key details of people in the desert?
- 30million people
- in Pithoan people farm
- people use ghee and buttermilk (to reduce strain on water)
Key details of the area?
- 1/4 million square miles
- main city is Jaisalmer
Opportunity: Trade
-trade spices due to the trading routes
Opportunity: Location
-major trading route between East and West
Opportunity: Tourism
- Jaislemer fort
- area called the golden city
- tourism began in 1970 so good access to water
- Jaislemer festival
- desert safaris bring in 1000s of visitors
Opportunity: Energy
- coal, a thermal plant made in Giral
- oil, large oilfield found in Balmer
- wind, 2001 Jaislemer air-park founded
- solar, water treating by solar energy at Bhalene
Opportunity: Camels
- camel milk is lactose free, low in fats and decreases insulin which is good for those with diabetes
- camel blood is good for making vaccines for certain illnesses such as cancer
Opportunity: Farming
-construction of Indira Ghani CAnal in 1958 allows crops to grow using a revolutionary irrigation sysyem which has changed farming
Opportunity: Mineral Extraction
- the desert has valuable materials such as gypsum, kaoline, feldspar and phospherite
- at Jaislemer sanu limestone is main limestone in India
Challenge: Erosion
- all made from material not built to withstand erosion from water
- many live in the castle/fort which is slowly eroding
Challenge: Camels
-camel numbers in steep decline (by half) due to cars and less water available
Challenge: Jobs
- not enough jobs in rural areas
- inequality between men and women within the workplace
- rural jobs don’t pay as well
Challenge: Environment
-there as lots of droughts, shifing sands and hot winds