THAL DESERT

The Thal desert Urdu, Punjabi:  is situated in Punjab, Pakistan. It is vast area mainly between the Jhelum and Sindh rivers near the Pothohar Plateau. Its total length from north to south is 190 miles, and its maximum breadth is 70 miles 110 km while minimum breadth is 20 miles. This region is divided into the districts of Bhakkar, Khushab, Mianwali, Jhang, Layyah, and Muzaffargarh. Its part in Jhang is on the left bank of the river Jhelum. Geographically, it resembles the deserts of Cholistan and Thar. Main towns of Thal are Murshid Abad Shareef, Roda Thal, Mankera, Hyderabad Thal, Dullewala, Mehmood Shaheed, Shah Wala, Shahi Shumali, Piplan, Kundian, Chowk Azam, Sarai Muhajir, Jiasal, Rangpur, Adhi Kot, Jandanaala, Mari Shah Sakhira, Noorpur Thal, Kapahi, Goharwala,Mahni.The history of the Thal Canal Project goes back to over 130 years. It was in 1873 that the project was first conceived for the whole of Thal Doab. The proposal to irrigate this area was repeatedly brought up for discussion in 1919, 1921, 1924, 1925, 1936 and in 1949. It was however repeatedly shelved because of the argument that it would severely hurt the water availability to the lower riparians. The project proposal once again came under discussion in 1975 when the Executive Committee of National Economic Council ECNECrefused to endorse the project. Finally, on August 16, 2001, General Rtd Pervez Musharraf, as President of Pakistan, inaugurated the 30-billion rupee Greater Thal Canal GTC project.The local language of the Thal Desert is the Saraiki also known as Thalochi dialect of Saraiki Language. The people here live mainly in houses constructed of mud.The area remains lacking in basic facilities such as electricity. The people of Thal are hospitable, and are generally religious. Grams are produced in this desert and sent all across Pakistan. People go to shrines and Peers to ask for prayers.In some areas people started installing Tube well to water their crops.Main tribes of people living in this desert region include the Ghullo,Wahla Jutt, Rajpoot, Panwaar, Saigra, Khokhar, Cheenna, Sandhila jutt, Naich Jutt, Aheer, Bhachar, Johiya, Mammak, Chhina,Kulachi Baloch, Baloch, Tiwana, Sial, Baghoor, Awans, Rahdari, Uttra Jutt, Bhullar, Lashari, Kanyal, Jhammat, Gahi Malik, mehr, Waghra Aulakh, Majoka, Magsi and Pushia. Before the partition of India in 1947 there was a large Sikh and Hindu Population. Karlu Jutt.

TAKLAMAKAN DESERT

The Taklamakan Desert, also known as Taklimakan and Teklimakan, is a desert in southwest Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, northwest China. It is bounded by the Kunlun Mountains to the south, the Pamir Mountains and Tian Shan ancient Mount Imeon to the west and north, and the Gobi Desert to the east.

The name may be an Uyghur borrowing of the Arabic tark, "to leave alone/out/behind, relinquish, abandon" + makan, "place". Another plausible explanation suggests it is derived from Turki taqlar makan, describing "the place of ruins".The Taklamakan Desert has an area of 337,000 km2 130,116 sq. mi., and includes the Tarim Basin, which is 1,000 kilometres 620 mi long and 400 kilometres 250 mi wide. It is crossed at its northern and at its southern edge by two branches of the Silk Road as travelers sought to avoid the arid wasteland. It is the world's second largest shifting sand desert with about 85% made up of shifting sand dunes ranking 18th in size in a ranking of the world's largest non-polar deserts.

Some geographers and ecologists prefer to regard the Taklamakan Desert as separate and independent from the Gobi Desert region to its east.citation needed

In recent years, the People's Republic of China has constructed a cross-desert highway that links the cities of Hotan on the southern edge and Luntai on the northern edge. In recent years, the desert has expanded in someBecause it lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas,Taklamakan is a paradigmatic cold desert climate. Given its relative proximity with the cold to frigid air masses in Siberia, extreme lows are recorded in wintertime, sometimes well below −20 °C −4 °F. During the 2008 Chinese winter storms episode, the Taklamakan was reported to be covered for the first time in its entirety with a thin layer of snow reaching 4 centimetres 1.6 in, with a temperature of −26.1 °C −15 °F in some observatories.

Its extreme inland position, virtually in the very heartland of Asia and thousands of kilometres from any open body of water, accounts for the cold character of its nights even during summertime.There is very little water in the desert and it is hazardous to cross. Merchant caravans on the Silk Road would stop for relief at the thriving oasis towns. It was in close proximity to many of the ancient civilizations—to the Northwest is the Amu Darya basin, to the Southwest the Afghanistan mountain passes lead to Iran and India, to the East is China, and even to the North can be found ancient towns like Almaty.

The key oasis towns, watered by rainfall from the mountains, were Kashgar, Marin, Niya, Yarkand, and Khotan Hetian to the south, Kuqa and Turpan in the north, and Loulan and Dunhuang in the east.[6] Now many, such as Marin and Gaochang, are ruined cities in sparsely inhabited areas in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

DASHT-E KAVIR DESERT

 Dasht-e Kavir lit. 'Desert of salt-marsh', also known as Kavir-e Namak lit. 'salt-marsh of salt' and the Great Salt Desert is a large desert lying in the middle of the Iranian plateau. It is about 800 km 500 mi and 320 km 200 mi with a total surface area of about 77,600 km2 30,000 sq mi, making it the Earth's 23rd largest desert. The area of this desert stretches from the Alborz mountain range in the north-west to the Dasht-e Loot in the south-east and is partitioned between the Iranian provinces of Khorasan, Semnan, Tehran, Isfahan and Yazd.

Dasht means 'desert' in Persian. It is named after the salt marshes "kavirs" located there. Namak means 'salt'.Central in the desert lies the Kavir Buzurg Great Kavir, which is about 320 km long and 160 km 99 mi wide. In the west lies the Darya-ye Namak "lake of salt", of 1,800 km2 690 sq mi. It contains some large salt plates in a mosaic-like shape. It is part of a 4,000 km2 1,500 sq mi protected ecological zone, the Kavir National Park. One of the most desolate places of Dasht-e Kavir is the Rig-e Jenn dunes.The Dasht-e Kavir's climate is almost rainless and the area is very arid. Temperatures can reach 50 °C 122 °F in summer, and the average temperature in January is 22 °C 72 °F. Day and night temperatures during a year can differ up to 70 °C 158 °F. Rain usually falls in winter.

The desert soil is covered with sand and pebbles; there are marshes, lakes and wadis. The hot temperatures cause extreme vaporization, which leaves the marshes and mud grounds with large crusts of salt. Heavy storms frequently occur and they can cause sand hills reaching up to 40 m in height. Some parts of Dasht- e Kavir have a more steppe-like appearance.Vegetation in the Dasht-e Kavir is adapted to the hot and arid climate as well as to the saline soil in which it is rooted. Common plant species like shrubs and grasses can only be found in some valleys and on mountain tops. The most widespread plant is mugwort.

The Persian ground jay is a bird species living in some parts of the desert plateaus, along with Houbara bustards, larks and sandgrouses.

Persian gazelles live in parts of steppe and desert areas of the central plateau. Wild sheep Ovis orientalis, camels, goats Capra aegagrus and leopards are common in mountainous areas. Night life brings on wild cats, wolves, foxes, and other carnivores. In some parts of the desert, the Persian onager gur in Persian and sometimes even the Asiatic Cheetah can be seen. Lizards and snakes live in different places in the central plateau.The extreme heat and many storms in Dasht-e Kavir cause extensive erosion, which makes it almost impossible to cultivate the lands. The desert is almost uninhabited and knows little exploitation. Camel and sheep breeding and agriculture are the sources of living to the few people living on its soil. Human settling is restricted to some oases, where wind-blocking housing constructions are raised to deal with the harsh weather conditions. For irrigation, Iranians developed a sophisticated system of water-wells known as qanats. These are still in use, and modern globally used water-revenue systems are based on their techniques.

CHOLISTAN DESERT

The Cholistan Desert also locally known as Rohi sprawls thirty kilometers from Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan and covers an area of 26,300 square kilometres 10,200 sq mi. It adjoins the Thar Desert, extending over to Sindh and into India.

The word Cholistan is derived from the Turkic word chol, which means "desert". Cholistan thus means Land of the Desert. The people of Cholistan lead a semi-nomadic life, moving from one place to another in search of water and fodder for their animals. The dry bed of the Hakra River runs through the area, along which many settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization have been found.

The desert also has an annual Jeep rally, known as Cholistan Desert Jeep Rally. It is the biggest motor sports event in Pakistan.The language of Cholistan also reflects a number of features for its historical and geographical background.Saraiki is the native language of Cholistan. Cholistan is a pretty diffused society as many people in search of rain travel larger distances and many travel to central parts of Punjab for work when there is shortage of water. So due to the diffused nature of these people language in Cholistan is a mixture of many Dialects of the Punjab. Many communities do speak their peculiar local dialects but general Punjabi language is easily understood and can be spoken owing to the migration trends in search for work in these regions.In a harsh and barren land where rainfall is very sparse and unreliable, Cholistanis rely mainly on their livestock of sheep, goats, and camel. However in cold nights of winter they huddle indoor and engage themselves in various arts and crafts such as textiles, weaving, leatherwork, and pottery.As mentioned above, the Indus Valley has always been occupied by the wandering nomadic tribes, who are fond of isolated areas, as such areas allow them to lead life free of foreign intrusion, enabling them to establish their own individual and unique cultures. Cholistan till the era of Mughal rule had also been isolated from outside influence. During the rule of Mughal Emperor Akbar, it became a proper productive unit. The entire area was ruled by a host of kings who securely guarded their frontiers. The rulers were the great patrons of art, and the various crafts underwent a simultaneous and parallel development, influencing each other. Mesons, stone carvers, artisans, artists, and designers started rebuilding the old cities and new sites, and with that flourished new courts, paintings, weaving, and pottery. The fields of architecture, sculpture, terra cotta, and pottery developed greatly in this phase.The backbone of Cholistan economy is cattle breeding. It has the major importance for satisfying the area's major needs for cottage industry as well as milk meat and fat. Because of the nomadic way of life the main wealth of the people are their cattle that are bred for sale, milked or shorn for their wool. Moreover, isolated as they were, they had to depend upon themselves for all their needs like food, clothing, and all the items of daily use. So all their crafts initially stemmed from necessity but later on they started exporting their goods to the other places as well. The estimated number of livestock in the desert areas is 1.6 million.Cholistan produces very superior type of carpet wool as compared to that produced in other parts of Pakistan. From this wool they knit beautiful carpets, rugs and other woolen items. This includes blankets, which is also a local necessity for the desert is not just a land of dust and heat, but winter nights here are very cold, usually below freezing points. Khes and pattu are also manufactured with wool or cotton. Khes is a form of blanket with a field of black white and pattu has a white ground base. Cholistanis now sell the wool for it brings maximum profit.

KALAHARI DESERT

The Kalahari Desert in Afrikaans Kalahari-woestyn is a large semi-arid sandy savannah in southern Africa extending 900,000 square kilometres 350,000 sq mi, covering much of Botswana and parts of Namibia and South Africa. A semi-desert, with huge tracts of excellent grazing after good rains, the Kalahari supports more animals and plants than a true desert, such as the Namib Desert to the west. There are small amounts of rainfall and the summer temperature is very high. The driest areas usually receive 110–200 millimetres 4.3–7.9 in of rain per year and the wettest just a little over 500 millimetres (20 in). The surrounding Kalahari Basin covers over 2,500,000 square kilometres (970,000 sq mi) extending farther into Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, and encroaching into parts of Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Kalahari is home to many migratory birds and animals. Previously havens for wild animals from elephants to giraffes, and for predators such as lions and cheetahs, the riverbeds are now mostly grazing spots, though leopards and cheetahs can still be found. The area is now heavily grazed and cattle fences restrict the movement of wildlife. Among deserts of the southern hemisphere the Kalahari most closely resembles some Australian deserts in its latitude and its mode of formation.

Description;

Derived from the Tswana word Kgala, meaning "the great thirst", or Khalagari, Kgalagadi or Kalagare, meaning "a waterless place", the Kalahari has vast areas covered by red sand without any permanent surface water. Drainage is by dry valleys, seasonally inundated pans, and the large salt pans of the Makgadikgadi Pan in Botswana and Etosha Pan in Namibia. The only permanent river, the Okavango, flows into a delta in the northwest, forming marshes that are rich in wildlife. Ancient dry riverbeds—called omuramba—traverse the Central Northern reaches of the Kalahari and provide standing pools of water during the rainy season.

WAHIBA SANDS DESERT

The Wahiba Sands, or Ramlat al-Wahiba also called Sharqiya Sands is a region of desert in Oman. The region is named for the Wahiba tribe. The area is defined by a boundary of 180 kilometers 110 north to south and 80 kilometers 50 mi east to west with an area of 12,500 square kilometers 4,800 sq mi. The desert has been of scientific interest since a 1986 expedition by the Royal Geographical Society documented the diversity of the terrain, the flora and fauna, noting 16,000 invertebrates as well as 200 species of other wildlife, including avifauna. The desert was formed during the Quaternary period as a result of the forces of south-west blowing monsoon and the northern shamal trade wind, coming in from the east.Based on the types of dunes found in the area, it is divided into the high, or upper, Wahiba and low Wahiba. The upper area contains mega-ridge sand systems on a north-south line that are believed to have been formed by monsoon. The dunes of the north, formed at some point after the last regional glaciation, measure up to 100 meters 330 ft high with peaks accumulating in the areas just beyond the strongest wind speeds, where declining velocity wind deposited sand. The north and west boundaries of the desert are delineated by the fluvial systems Wadi Batha and Wadi Andam. Beneath the surface sands are older layers of cemented carbonate sand. Alluvium deposits believed to have originated from the Wadi Batha during the Paleolithic era have been disclosed in the central desert 200 meters 660 ft beneath the interdune surface. Wind erosion is believed to have contributed to the existence of a nearly level plain in the southwest. The area is occupied by Bedouins who congregate at Al Huyawah, an oasis near the border of the desert, between June and September to gather dates. Tribes present in the area at the time of the Royal Geographical Society expedition included, predominately, the al-Wahiba or Yal Wahiba for whom the region is named, the al-Amr, the al-Bu-Isa, the Hikman, Hishm and Janaba.They also documented 150 species of native flora.Alsharhan, A. S.; IGCP Project 349 1998. Quaternary Deserts and Climatic Change: Proceedings of the International Conference on Quaternary Deserts and Climatic Change : Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, 9–11 December 1995. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 90-5410-597-6.

Cooke, Ronald U.; Andrew Warren, Andrew Goudie 1993. Desert Geomorphology. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 1-85728-017-2.

Darke, Diana; Sandra Shields 2006. Oman: The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 214–217. ISBN 1-84162-168-4.

GOBI DESERT

The Gobi Mongolian: Говь, Govi, "semidesert"; Chinese: ; pinyin: Gēbì  is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the southwest, and by the North China Plain to the southeast. The Gobi is most notable in history as part of the great Mongol Empire, and as the location of several important cities along the Silk Road.

The Gobi is made up of several distinct ecological and geographic regions based on variations in climate and topography. One is the Eastern Gobi desert steppe ecoregion, a Palearctic ecoregion in the deserts and xeric shrublands biome, home to the Bactrian camel and various other animals. It is a rain shadow desert formed by the Himalaya range blocking rain-carrying clouds from the Indian Ocean from reaching the Gobi territory.

The Gobi measures over 1,600 km 1,000 mi from southwest to northeast and 800 km 500 mi from north to south. The desert is widest in the west, along the line joining the Lake Bosten and the Lop Nor 87°-89° east. It occupies an arc of land 1,295,000 km2 500,000 sq mi in area as of 2007; it is the fifth-largest desert in the world and Asia's largest. Much of the Gobi is not sandy but has exposed bare rock.

The Gobi has several different Chinese names, including, a generic term for deserts  and, In its broadest definition, the Gobi includes the long stretch of desert and semi-desert area extending from the foot of the Pamirs, 77° east, to the Greater Khingan Mountains, 116°-118° east, on the border of Manchuria; and from the foothills of the Altay, Sayan, and Yablonoi mountain ranges on the north to the Kunlun, Altyn-Tagh, and Qilian mountain ranges, which form the northern edges of the Tibetan Plateau, on the south. citation needed

Gobi desert near Dunhuang

A relatively large area on the east side of the Greater Khingan range, between the upper waters of the Songhua Sungari and the upper waters of the Liao-ho, is reckoned to belong to the Gobi by conventional usage. Some geographers and ecologists prefer to regard the western area of the Gobi region as defined above: the basin of the Tarim in Xinjiang and the desert basin of Lop Nor and Hami Kumul, as forming a separate and independent desert, called the Taklamakan Desert.

Archeologists and paleontologists have done excavations in the Nemegt Basin in the northwestern part of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, which is noted for its fossil treasures, including early mammals, dinosaur eggs, and prehistoric stone implements, some 100,000 years old. Citation needed.

Climate;

The Gobi is a cold desert, with frost and occasionally snow occurring on its dunes. Besides being quite far north, it is also located on a plateau roughly 910–1,520 metres 2,990–4,990 ft above sea level, which contributes to its low temperatures. An average of approximately 194 millimetres 7.6 in of rain falls annually in the Gobi. Additional moisture reaches parts of the Gobi in winter as snow is blown by the wind from the Siberian Steppes. These winds cause the Gobi to reach extremes of temperature ranging from –40°C  –40°F in winter to +50°C 122°F in summer

The climate of the Gobi is one of great extremes, combined with rapid changes of temperature of as much as 35 °C 63 °F. These can occur not only seasonally but within 24 hours.