this slide heps you to know about the origion, Culture, Organisms and others of Thar desert and tharparkar(Sindh).

1. THAR DESERT
THAR DESERT
ECOSYSTEM
SURESH SANGI SAMANI
sangi.samani@yahoo.com
+923333907567

2. TharDesert (also
• The Thar
Desert
known as the Great Indian
Desert), is a large, arid
region in the northwestern
part of the Indian
subcontinent and forms a
natural boundary running
along the border between
India and Pakistan. With
an area of more than
200,000 km2 (77,000
sq mi), it is the world's 9th

3. • It lies mostly in the Indian State of Rajasthan,
and extends into the southern portion of
Haryana and Punjab states and into northern
Gujarat state. In Pakistan, the desert covers
eastern Sindh province and the southeastern
portion of Pakistan's Punjab province. The
Cholistan Desert adjoins the Thar desert
spreading into Pakistani Punjab province.

4. Tharparkar
• Tharparkar which consists of
two words Thar and Parkar is
a sea of cultural heritage in
our country that we ourselves
have forgotten for some
reason. Thar means Desert
while Parkar means the other
side.
• With the coming together of
two of these areas Tharparkar
has ceased to be a complete
desert as Thar is the desert
which is also the largest
desert of Pakistan and the
only fertile desert in the world
while Parkar is the irrigated
area and does not qualify to

5. • It is bounded in the north by Mirpurkhass
and Umerkot. On east by Barmer and
Jisselmir District of India. On west by
district Badin and South by Ran of Kutch
the total area of the district is 10,638
square kilometer. The district comprising
with 4 (four) Taluka’s ciz.
• Mithi
• Diplo
• Chachro
• Nangarparkar
• Though sand is all around in Thar. But, in
the Nangarparkar, the egg-shaped hills of
Karon-Jhar and the charm of its valleys
coupled with some sacred places for

6. Origin
• The origin of the Thar Desert is a
controversial subject. Some
consider it to be 4000 to 1,000,000
years old, whereas others state
that aridity started in this region
much earlier. Another theory
states that area turned to desert
relatively recently: perhaps around
2000 - 1500 BC. Around this time
the Ghaggar ceased to be a major
river. It now terminates in the
desert but at one time was a
watersource for the Indus Valley
Civilization centre of Mohenjo-

7. Location and description
• In India the Thar Desert extends
from the Sutlej River,
surrounded by the Aravalli
Range on the east, on the south
by the salt marsh known as the
Rann of Kutch (parts of which
are sometimes included in the
Thar), and on the west by the
Indus River. Its boundary to the
large thorny steppe to the north
is ill-defined, about 3/5th of the
total geographical area of the
State.

8. Rain Fall In Tharparkar
• Rainfall in the area is very low,
from 100-500mm per year, all
falling between July and
September, and the climate is
harsh with temperatures
ranging form near freezing up
to 50°C. The habitat is greatly
influenced by the extreme
climate. The sparse vegetation
consists of xerophilious
grasslands.
• The Thar desert seems an
ideal place for generation of
electricity from wind power.

9. Physiography and geology
• There are three principal
landforms in the desert
region — the predominantly
sand covered Thar, the
plains with hills including the
central dune free country
and the semi-arid area
surrounding the Aravalli
range.
• The Aravalli forms the main
landmark to the south-east
of Thar Desert.

10. Biodiversity
• Stretches of sand in the desert
are interspersed by hillocks and
sandy and gravel plains. Due to
the diversified habitat and
ecosystem, the vegetation,
human culture and animal life in
this arid region is very rich in
contrast to the other deserts of
the world. About 23 species of
lizard and 25 species of snakes
are found here and several of
them are endemic to the region.
• Due to the lack of water in this
region, transformation of the

11. Biodiversity (cont:)
• The region is a haven for 141
species of migratory and
resident birds of the desert. One
can see eagles, harriers,
falcons, buzzards, kestrel and
vultures. Short-toed Eagles
(Circaetus gallicus), Tawny
Eagles (Aquila rapax), Spotted
Eagles (Aquila clanga), Laggar
Falcons (Falco jugger) and
kestrels. There are also a
number of reptiles.

12. Natural vegetation
• The natural vegetation of
this dry area is classed as
Northern Desert Thorn
Forest occurring in small
clumps scattered more or
less openly.
• Natural vegetation of Thar
Desert is composed of
following tree, shrub and
herb species.

13. Threats and preservation
• Thar Desert, and its diverse
fauna. The endangered
Great Indian Bustard
(Chirotis nigricaps),
Blackbuck, chinkara, fox,
Bengal fox, wolf, and caracal
can be seen here and etc.
• There are eleven national
parks in the Thar desert
area, the largest of which are
the Nara Desert Wildlife
Sanctuary and the Rann of
Kutch.

14. Greening desert
The soil of the Thar Desert
remains dry for much of the
year and is prone to wind
erosion. High velocity winds
blow soil from the desert,
depositing some on
neighboring fertile lands, and
causing shifting sand dunes
within the desert, which bury
fences and block roads and
railway tracks.

15. Desert economy
• Due to severe weather conditions, there
are few highways in the Thar desert.
Shown here is a road in Tharparkar
District of Sindh, Pakistan.

16. Agriculture
• The Thar is one of most heavily-
populated desert areas in the world and
the main occupations of people living
here are agriculture and animal
husbandry. Agriculture is not a
dependable proposition in this area—
after the rainy season, at least 33% of
crops fail. Animal husbandry, trees and
grasses, intercropped with vegetables or
fruit trees.
• These crops are harvested in the months
of September and October and include
bajra (Pennisetum typhoideum), pulses,
jowar (Sorghum vulgare), maize (zea

17. Livestock
• A large number of farmers in Thar
desert depend on animal husbandry for
their livelihood. Cow, buffalo, sheep,
goats, camel, and ox consists of major
cattle population. Barmer district has
the highest cattle population out of
which sheep and goats are in majority.
Some of the best breeds of bullocks
such as Kankrej (Sanchori) and Nagauri
are from desert region.
• The live stock depends for grazing on
common lands in villages. During
famine years in the desert the nomadic
rebari people move with large herds of

18. Agro-forestry
• Forestry has an important part to play in the
amelioration of the conditions in semi-arid and
arid lands. If properly planned forestry can make
an important contribution to the general welfare
of the people living in desert areas. The living
standard of the people in the desert is low. They
can not afford other fuels like gas, kerosene etc.
Fire wood is their main fuel, of the total
consumption of wood about 75 percent is
firewood.

19. Salt water lakes
• There are a number of salt water lakes in
Thar desert. These are Sambhar,
Pachpadra, Tal Chhapar, Falaudi and
Lunkaransar where Sodium chloride salt
is produced from salt water.

20. People
• The Thar Desert is mainly inhabited by Hindus,
Muslims, and Sikhs. The portion in Pakistan is
inhabited by primarily by Sindhis and Kolhis. A
colourful culture rich in tradition prevails in the
desert. The people have a great passion for folk
music and folk poetry.
• The main occupation of the people in desert is
agriculture and animal husbandry. In past years
there has been a tremendous increase in human
population as well as animal population.
• The increase of human and livestock population
in the desert has led to deterioration in the
ecosystem resulting in degradation of soil fertility.

21. • The living standard of the people in the desert is
low. The Thar Desert is the most densely
populated desert in the world, with a population
density of 83 people per km2. vs 7 in other
deserts.
• In Pakistan part of Thar also has a rich
multifaceted culture, heritage, traditions, folk
tales, dances and music due to its inhabitants
who belong to different religions, sects and
castes.

22. Water and housing in the desert
• Water scarcity plays an important role
in shaping life in all parts of Thar.
Natural (tobas) or man-made (johads),
both types of small, intermittent ponds,
are often the only source of water for
animals and humans in the true desert
areas. The lack of a constant water
supply causes much of the local
population to live as nomads.
• Potable groundwater is also rare in the
Thar desert.
• Wells that successfully bear sweet
water attract nearby settlement, but
are difficult to dig, possibly claiming the

23. Plants Of Thar Desert

24. Animals Of Thar Desert