Thar desert

What is the Thar Desert and where is it?

A hot desert located on the border of India and Pakistan.

What farming takes place in the Thar Desert?

commercial farming of wheat and cotton enabled by the Indira Gandhi Canal irrigation.

What energy resources exist in the Thar Desert?

the Bhadia Solar Park (one of the world's largest), and estimated reserves of 175 billion tonnes of coal.

What minerals are extracted from the Thar Desert?

Gypsum and limestone

What tourism exists in the Thar Desert?

Desert safaris and ecotourism

What are the main challenges to development in the Thar Desert?

Extreme temperatures reaching 50°C in May/June; very low rainfall (120-240mm); limited

How is water supply managed in the Thar Desert?

The 650km Indira Gandhi Canal provides water for drinking and irrigation. Over-irrigation has caused salinisation in some areas.

What is desertification?

The process by which fertile land becomes increasingly arid and unproductive, caused by both natural factors and human activities.

What are the natural causes of desertification?

Unpredictable rainfall leading to drought; intense short bursts of rain causing soil erosion;

What are the human causes of desertification?

Overgrazing, over-cultivation and deforestation remove vegetation and expose soil; population growth increases pressure on land and demand for fuelwood.

How does deforestation cause desertification?

It removes shade, reduces infiltration and interception, exposes soil to wind and rain, and reduces nutrients returned to the soil — all increasing soil erosion.

How does overgrazing cause desertification?

Too many animals remove vegetation, leaving bare soil exposed to erosion by wind and rain, preventing plants from re-establishing.

How does climate change link to desertification?

It increases temperatures and makes rainfall more irregular, worsening drought and soil erosion — though this is itself partly caused by human greenhouse gas emissions.