LW - Case Study Thar Desert

Question 1

Where is the Thar Desert located?

Answer 1

North-west India into Pakistan

200,000 km squared

Question 2

What are the economic opportunities in the desert?

Answer 2

• Subsistence farming
• Irrigation and commercial farming
• Mining and industry
• Tourism

Question 3

What are features of subsistence farming?

Answer 3

Subsistence = most food eaten by those who have grown it

Successful farming involves a few animals on grassy areas and cultivating veg and fruit

Question 4

What are the features of irrigation and commercial farming?

Answer 4

• Crops such as cotton now flourish

- Drinking water is now provided

Question 5

What are valuable reserves used in mining?

Answer 5

Phosphorite - fertiliser
Feldspar - ceramics
Limestone - steel

Question 6

Explain the economic opportunities in tourism

Answer 6

Desert safaris are popular -> local people benefit -> job as guide or rearing camels

Question 7

What are future challenges that the desert could face?

Answer 7

• Population pressure (most densely populated desert in world)
• Water management (excessive irrigation)
• Soil erosion (over cultivation)
• Fuel (reserves are decreasing)
• Tourism (environment could suffer)

Question 8

What are the characteristics of the climate?

Answer 8

• 120-240 mm of rain per year

- High temperatures of 53 degrees