Thar Desert

• where is the thar desert located?


  north- west India and Pakistan
• what are the opportunities for development?

  • mineral extraction
  • tourism
  • energy
  • farming
• what are the most important minerals in the Thar Desert and what are they used for?


  • gypsum - making plaster
  • feldspar - ceramics
  • kaolin- whitening in paper
  • phosphorite - making fertisiliser
• what are the different types of energy for Thar Desert


  • coal
  • oil
  • wind
  • solar
• how is the thar desert rich in coal?

  • thermal energy plant in Giral
  • extensive lignite coal deposits in part of the Thar Desert
• how is the thar desert rich in oil?


  • large oil field in the Barmer district discovered
  • could transform local economy
• how is the thar desert rich in wind energy?


  • In 2001, the Jaisalmer wind plant was constructed - India's largest wind farm
• how is the thar desert rich in solar energy?


  • Bhaleri plant solar energy is used for water treatment
  • ideal conditions for solar power generation- sunny, cloudless skies
• what farming is most common in the thar desert?


  • subsistence farming - grazing animals in the hot, grassy areas and cultivating vegetables and fruit trees in the hot and dry conditions
• what has made commercial farming possible in the thar desert?


  • irrigation
• what crops can be grown in the thar desert because of irrigation 


  cotton, pulses, sesame, maize and mustard
• why do locals benefit from tourism?


  • desert safaris on camels
  • provide food, accommodation, guides or looking after camels
• what are the challenges to the thar desert?


  • water shortage
  • extreme temperatures
  • inaccessibility
• why are extreme temperatures a challenge to the thar desert?


  • working outside in the heat can be very hard - farmers
  • high levels of evaporation lead to water shortages - can affect plants and animals
• what are water shortages common in the thar desert?


  • population and farming have increased, so has the demand for water
  • the desert has low annual rainfall, high temp and strong winds - lots of evaporation takes place
• what are the sources for water?

  • natural ponds - tobas
  • man made ponds - johads
  • underground sources - aquifers - water is not good quality
  • rivers and streams - river luni - rivers are intermittent and only flow after rainfall
• why is inaccessibility a problem to the thar desert?


  • limited road network
  • strong winds blow sand over the roads
  • high temp causes tarmac to melt
  • public transport - seriously busy buses