Life in the desert 6

Life in the Deserts – Short & Easy Notes

Desert: Meaning

Desert (Latin: desertus) means barren or waste land.

Features: very low rainfall, extreme temperature, high evaporation, scanty vegetation.

Deserts cover about 1/7th of Earth’s land surface.

Types of Deserts

1. Hot Deserts – Sahara, Thar, Arabian (mostly in subtropical western parts of continents).

2. Cold Deserts – Ladakh, Gobi (high altitudes; very cold and dry).

HOT DESERT: SAHARA

Location

Largest desert of the world.

Northern Africa; bordered by Atlantic Ocean (west) and Red Sea (east).

North: Atlas Mountains & Mediterranean Sea.

Countries: Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Chad, Mali, Niger, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Western Sahara.

Topography

Only 1/4th area has sand.

Mostly rocky plateaus, plains, mountains (up to ~2500 m).

Oasis: places with water for plants and settlement.

Sand dunes: wind-made hills of sand (200–400 m).

Climate

Very hot and dry.

Day temperature up to 50°C.

Al Azizia (Libya) recorded 57.7°C (1922).

Very little rainfall; nights can be very cold.

Soils

Arid and alkaline soils.

Fertile soil near oasis due to water availability.

Flora & Fauna

Plants: cactus, thorny bushes, date palm, acacia.

Animals: camel, deer, hyena, jackal, fox, snake, lizard, scorpion.

Population & Life

Population ~ 2.5 million.

Mostly nomads.

Tribes: Bedouins, Berbers, Tuaregs, Moors, Tubu, Hausa.

Camel = Ship of the Desert.

Animals provide milk, meat, wool, leather.

Agriculture

Nile Valley (Egypt) is fertile.

Crops: rice, wheat, barley, beans.

Egyptian long-staple cotton is famous.

Minerals

Iron ore, phosphorus, manganese, uranium, mineral oil.

Oil found in Nigeria, Algeria, Libya, Egypt.

Recent Changes

Trucks replacing camels.

Nomads working in oil & gas.

Tourism increasing.

Roads, highways, modern buildings developing.

COLD DESERT: LADAKH

Meaning & Location

La = mountain pass, Dak = country → Country of Passes.

Intermontane plateau between Karakoram (north) and Zaskar (south).

Part of Tibetan Plateau.

UT of Ladakh since 31 Oct 2019; Capital: Leh.

Physical Features

Height: 3000 m to 8000 m.

Many peaks (5000–5600 m), some up to 7000 m.

Glaciers: Saltoro, Baltoro.

Valleys and deep gorges.

Climate

Extremely cold and dry.

Summer day temp ~ 0°C; night below –30°C.

Winter temp below –40°C.

Rainfall ~ 10 cm/year (rain shadow of Himalayas).

Strong cold dry winds; intense sunlight.

Drainage

Rivers: Indus, Dras, Shingo, Suru, Shyok, Zaskar.

Soil

Red, sandy, dry, porous.

Soil & water conservation techniques used.

Flora & Fauna

Vegetation: grasses, shrubs, willows, poplars.

Horticulture in summers: apple, walnut, apricot.

Birds: robin, redstart, snowcock, raven, hoopoe.

Animals: yak, ibex, wild sheep, kiang, deer, hare.

Chiru (Tibetan antelope) endangered (Shahtoosh wool).

Population & Life

People: Buddhists and Muslims.

Farming with melted snow water.

Irrigation: Kuhls, bamboo drip, pitcher drip.

Crops (summer): barley, potato, peas, beans, turnips.

Animals reared: yak, sheep, goat (milk, wool, meat).

Settlements & Culture

Inhabited since ancient times.

Leh in Indus Valley.

Famous monasteries (Gompas): Hemis, Thiksey, Shey, Lamayuru.

Passes: Zoji La, Rohtang La, Baralacha La, Tanglang La.

Recent Developments

Tourism growing (gompas, treks, glaciers, festivals).

Modernization with conservation.

Careful use of natural resources.

Important Questions (Short Answers)

1. Why is cool air drawn towards continental interiors?

Hot air rises; cool air sinks and moves towards land interiors.

2. Why Northern Plains get monsoon rain but Ladakh remains dry?

Ladakh lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas; mountains block moist winds.

Horticulture (Do You Know)

Hortus = garden, Cultus = cultivation.

Cultivation of fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants; small-scale gardening included.

Life in the Deserts / Ladakh / Sahara – 100 Word Meanings

Life in the Deserts / Ladakh / Sahara

100 Word Meanings (From the Given Text)

Physical Features (फिजिकल फीचर्स) — भौतिक विशेषताएँ, bhautik visheshatae
Plateau (प्लेटो) — पठार, pathaar
Glacier (ग्लेशियर) — हिमनद, himnad
Altitude (एल्टीट्यूड) — ऊँचाई, oonchai
Precipitation (प्रेसिपिटेशन) — वर्षण, varshan
Monsoon (मॉनसून) — मानसून, monsoon
Valley (वैली) — घाटी, ghaati
Gorge (गॉर्ज) — संकीर्ण गहरी घाटी, sankirn gahri ghaati
Intermontane (इंटरमॉन्टेन) — पर्वतों के बीच का, parvaton ke beech ka
Pass (पास) — पर्वतीय दर्रा, parvati darra
Climate (क्लाइमेट) — जलवायु, jalvayu
Rain Shadow (रेन शैडो) — वर्षा छाया क्षेत्र, varsha chhaya kshetra
Drainage (ड्रेनेज) — जल निकास प्रणाली, jal nikaas pranali
River (रिवर) — नदी, nadi
Soil (सॉइल) — मृदा, mrida
Porous (पोरस) — छिद्रयुक्त, chhidr-yukt
Conservation (कंज़र्वेशन) — संरक्षण, sanrakshan
Flora (फ्लोरा) — वनस्पति, vanaspati
Fauna (फॉना) — जीव-जंतु, jeev-jantu
Shrubs (श्रब्स) — झाड़ियाँ, jhaadiyaan
Horticulture (हॉर्टिकल्चर) — बागवानी, bagwani
Cultivation (कल्टीवेशन) — खेती, kheti
Irrigation (इरिगेशन) — सिंचाई, sinchai
Bamboo Drip Irrigation (बैम्बू ड्रिप इरिगेशन) — बाँस टपक सिंचाई, baans tapak sinchai
Kuhls (कुहल्स) — पारंपरिक जल नहरें, paramparik jal nahrein
Nomads (नोमैड्स) — घुमंतू लोग, ghumantu log
Pastoralists (पास्टोरलिस्ट्स) — पशुपालक, pashupalak
Settlement (सेटलमेंट) — बस्ती, basti
Monastery (मॉनास्ट्री) — मठ, math
Gompa (गोम्पा) — बौद्ध मठ, bauddh math
Desert (डेज़र्ट) — मरुस्थल, marusthal
Arid (एरिड) — शुष्क, shushk
Evaporation (इवैपोरेशन) — वाष्पीकरण, vaashpikaran
Oasis (ओएसिस) — नखलिस्तान, nakhalistan
Sand Dunes (सैंड ड्यून्स) — रेत के टीले, ret ke teele
Nomadic Tribe (नोमैडिक ट्राइब) — घुमंतू जनजाति, ghumantu janjaati
Bedouins (बेडुइन) — बेदुइन जनजाति, beduin janjaati
Tuaregs (तुआरेग्स) — तुआरेग जनजाति, tuareg janjaati
Caravan (कारवां) — ऊँटों का काफ़िला, oonton ka kaafila
Camel (कैमल) — ऊँट, oont
Ship of the Desert (शिप ऑफ द डेज़र्ट) — मरुस्थल का जहाज़, marusthal ka jahaaz
Agriculture (एग्रीकल्चर) — कृषि, krishi
Fertile Soil (फर्टाइल सॉइल) — उपजाऊ मिट्टी, upjaau mitti
Staple Crop (स्टेपल क्रॉप) — मुख्य फसल, mukhya fasal
Cotton (कॉटन) — कपास, kapaas
Minerals (मिनरल्स) — खनिज, khanij
Petroleum (पेट्रोलियम) — खनिज तेल, khanij tel
Uranium (यूरेनियम) — यूरेनियम, uranium
Phosphorus (फॉस्फोरस) — फॉस्फोरस, phosphorus
Natural Resources (नेचुरल रिसोर्सेज़) — प्राकृतिक संसाधन, prakritik sansaadhan
Tourism (टूरिज़्म) — पर्यटन, paryatan
Trekking (ट्रेकिंग) — पैदल पर्वत यात्रा, paidal parvat yatra
Glacier Valley (ग्लेशियर वैली) — हिमनदी घाटी, himnadi ghaati
Endangered Species (एंडेंजर्ड स्पीशीज़) — संकटग्रस्त प्रजाति, sankatgrast prajati
Shahtoosh (शाहतूश) — विशेष ऊन, vishesh oon
Domesticated Animals (डोमेस्टिकेटेड एनिमल्स) — पालतू पशु, paaltu pashu
Wildlife (वाइल्डलाइफ़) — वन्यजीव, vanya jeev
Antelope (एंटीलोप) — हिरण जाति का पशु, hiran jaati ka pashu
Yak (याक) — याक, yak
Ibex (आइबेक्स) — जंगली बकरी, jangli bakri
Drainage Basin (ड्रेनेज बेसिन) — जलग्रहण क्षेत्र, jal-grahan kshetra
Tributary (ट्रिब्यूटरी) — सहायक नदी, sahayak nadi
Highland (हाइलैंड) — ऊँचा क्षेत्र, ooncha kshetra
Rocky Surface (रॉकी सर्फेस) — पथरीली सतह, pathrili satah
Temperature (टेम्परेचर) — तापमान, taapmaan
Latitude (लैटीट्यूड) — अक्षांश, akshansh
Continent (कॉन्टिनेंट) — महाद्वीप, mahaadweep
Wind Borne (विंड बॉर्न) — हवा द्वारा लाया गया, hawa dwara laya gaya
Scorching (स्कॉर्चिंग) — झुलसाने वाली, jhulsane wali
Adaptation (एडाप्टेशन) — अनुकूलन, anukulan
Civilisation (सिविलाइज़ेशन) — सभ्यता, sabhyata
Archaeological Site (आर्कियोलॉजिकल साइट) — पुरातात्विक स्थल, puraatatvik sthal
Modernisation (मॉडर्नाइज़ेशन) — आधुनिकीकरण, aadhunikikaran
Highway (हाइवे) — राजमार्ग, rajmarg
Reorganisation (रीऑर्गनाइज़ेशन) — पुनर्गठन, punargathan
Union Territory (यूनियन टेरिटरी) — केंद्र शासित प्रदेश, kendra shasit pradesh
Capital (कैपिटल) — राजधानी, rajdhani
Connectivity (कनेक्टिविटी) — संपर्क व्यवस्था, sampark vyavastha
Cultural Landscape (कल्चरल लैंडस्केप) — सांस्कृतिक परिदृश्य, sanskritik paridrishya
Heritage (हेरिटेज) — धरोहर, dharohar
Population (पॉपुलेशन) — जनसंख्या, jansankhya
Ethnic Group (एथनिक ग्रुप) — जातीय समूह, jaatiya samuh
Tribe (ट्राइब) — जनजाति, janjaati
Livestock (लाइवस्टॉक) — पशुधन, pashudhan
Leather (लेदर) — चमड़ा, chamda
Blanket (ब्लैंकेट) — कंबल, kambal
Carpet (कार्पेट) — कालीन, kaaleen
Bottle (बॉटल) — बोतल, botal
Belt (बेल्ट) — कमरबंद, kamarband
Hide (हाइड) — पशु की खाल, pashu ki khaal
Date Palm (डेट पाम) — खजूर का पेड़, khajur ka ped
Acacia (अकेशिया) — बबूल का पेड़, babool ka ped
Cactus (कैक्टस) — कैक्टस पौधा, cactus paudha
Jackal (जैकल) — सियार, siyaar
Hyena (हाइना) — लकड़बग्घा, lakadbaggah
Fox (फॉक्स) — लोमड़ी, lomdi
Scorpion (स्कॉर्पियन) — बिच्छू, bichchhu
Lizard (लिज़र्ड) — छिपकली, chhipkali
Snake (स्नेक) — साँप, saanp
Mongoose (मॉन्गूज़) — नेवला, nevla

Life in the Deserts – Sahara & Ladakh

📘 Life in the Deserts: Sahara & Ladakh

20 Questions & Answers (English)

1. Why is Ladakh called Khapa-Chan?

Answer: Ladakh is called Khapa-Chan, which means Snowland, because it receives heavy snowfall.

2. Why is Ladakh known as Moonland?

Answer: Ladakh is called Moonland because its landforms look like the surface of the moon.

3. What is the height of Ladakh?

Answer: The height of Ladakh ranges from 3000 metres to 8000 metres above sea level.

4. Why is Ladakh called a cold desert?

Answer: Ladakh is called a cold desert because it has very low temperatures and very little rainfall.

5. Why does Ladakh receive very little rainfall?

Answer: Ladakh lies in the rain shadow area of the Himalayas, so it gets very little rainfall.

6. Which are the main rivers of Ladakh?

Answer: The main rivers of Ladakh are the Indus, Dras, Shingo, Suru, Shyok, and Zaskar.

7. What is the capital of Ladakh?

Answer: The capital of Ladakh is Leh.

8. Who founded Shantiniketan and when?

Answer: Shantiniketan was founded by Rabindranath Tagore in 1901.

9. In which script do blind schools teach students?

Answer: Blind schools teach students in Braille script.

10. When was the Wood’s Despatch issued?

Answer: The Wood’s Despatch was issued in 1854.

11. What is the meaning of the word desert?

Answer: The word desert means a barren or dry area.

12. How many types of deserts are there in the world?

Answer: There are two types of deserts: hot deserts and cold deserts.

13. Where is the Sahara Desert located?

Answer: The Sahara Desert is located in North Africa.

14. Why is the Sahara Desert the largest desert in the world?

Answer: The Sahara Desert is the largest desert because it covers about 8.54 million square kilometres.

15. Which tribes live in the Sahara Desert?

Answer: Bedouins, Berbers, Tuaregs, Moors, Tubu, and Hausa live in the Sahara Desert.

16. Why is the camel called the ship of the desert?

Answer: The camel is called the ship of the desert because it can travel long distances without water.

17. Where is farming possible in the Sahara Desert?

Answer: Farming is possible near oases in the Sahara Desert.

18. What are the main crops of the Sahara Desert?

Answer: The main crops are cotton, wheat, barley, and dates.

19. What is an oasis?

Answer: An oasis is a place in the desert where water is available and plants can grow.

20. Why is tourism increasing in Ladakh?

Answer: Tourism is increasing in Ladakh because of its beautiful monasteries, glaciers, mountains, festivals, and natural scenery.

Life in the Deserts – Sahara & Ladakh

II. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Knowledge

1. Write a note on the topography and climatic conditions of the Sahara Desert.

The Sahara Desert has vast sand dunes, rocky plateaus, gravel plains and dry valleys. The climate is extremely hot and dry. Day temperature is very high and nights are cold. Rainfall is very low and irregular.

2. Write a few lines on the people of the Sahara Desert.

The people of Sahara include Bedouins and Tuaregs. They are mostly nomadic. They wear long loose robes to protect themselves from heat. They depend on animals like camels, goats and sheep.

HOTS

3. ‘Life in the Sahara Desert is changing day-by-day.’ How? Justify the statement.

Life in the Sahara is changing due to development. Modern technology, vehicles and wells are used. People use solar energy and modern houses. Trade, tourism and education are increasing.

4. What do you know about the location and tourism of the Ladakh Desert?

The Ladakh Desert is located in the Great Himalayas. It lies in the eastern part of Jammu and Kashmir. Tourists visit Ladakh for monasteries, mountains and festivals. Places like Leh, Pangong Lake and Nubra Valley attract tourists.

5. Write a short note on the flora and fauna of the Ladakh region.

Ladakh has very little vegetation. Willow, poplar and grasses grow in summer. Animals like yak, sheep, goat and snow leopard are found. Birds like raven and eagle are also seen.

III. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Knowledge

1. Describe the soil and water conservation techniques practised by the people of Ladakh.

The soil of Ladakh is dry and sandy. People use meltwater from glaciers for irrigation. Water is stored in small channels and tanks. Terrace farming helps in soil conservation. Careful use of water is practised due to scarcity.

2. Give a brief account of the largest desert of the world.

The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world. It is located in North Africa. It covers many countries like Egypt, Libya and Sudan. The desert has sand dunes, rocky lands and oases.

3. Why do you think cactus and thorny bushes are the characteristic vegetation of deserts?

Cactus and thorny bushes need very little water. They have thick stems to store water. Their leaves are reduced to spines to prevent water loss. These features help them survive in deserts.

4. Give reasons why the people of Sahara Desert wear heavy robes.

Heavy robes protect people from hot winds. They cover the body from strong sunlight. The robes also protect from sandstorms. Loose clothes keep the body cool.

HOTS

5. Zoji La pass plays a significant role in the Ladakh region. How?

Zoji La pass connects Ladakh with Srinagar. It helps in transport of goods and people. The pass is important for trade and tourism. It is also important for defence and communication.