THE GREAT INDIAN DESERT

THE GREAT INDIAN DESERT AND ITS EXTENSION

• The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large, arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent that forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan.  
• It is the world's 17th largest desert, and the world's 9th largest subtropical desert.
•  About 85% of the Thar Desert is in India, and the remaining part in Pakistan. 
• In India, it covers about 320,000 km² (120,000 sq mi), of which 60% is in Rajasthan and extends into Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. 

• This desert comprises a very dry part, the Marusthali region in the west, and a semi desert region in the east with fewer sand dunes and slightly more precipitation.
• The indian desert lies towards the western margins of the Aravali Hills.
•  Its is an undulating sandy plain covered with sand dunes.
•  This region receives very low rainfall below 150mm per year. It has arid climate with low vegetation cover. Streams appear during the rainy season. Soon after they disappear into the sand as they do not have enough water to reach the sea. 

• Luni is the only large river in this region.

• Barchans ( crescent shaped dunes) cover larger area but longitudinal dunes become more prominent near the Indo- Pakistan boundary. If you visit Jaisalmer , you may go to sea a group of barchans. 

GO BACK TO THE INDIAN GEOGRAPHICAL ZONE
SEE THE INDIAN PENINSULAR PLATEAU AND ITS EXTENSION 
TAKE A LOOK OF GREAT HIMALAYA