Life in Desert Regions Chapter Notes | Footprints Class 7: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

The Sahara Desert

• Type: Tropical or hot desert
• Location: Africa

Ladakh

• Type: Temperate or cold desert
• Location: India

The Sahara Desert

Location

• It covers large parts of Algeria, Mali, Libya, Chad, Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, and Tunisia.
• The Sahara is bound by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlas Mountains in the north, the Nile Valley and the Red Sea in the east, the Niger Valley in the south, and the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

Landscape

• The Sahara Desert is covered with sand dunes and rocky patches. Sprinkled amid the sand and rock are oases, where groundwater comes to the surface.
• The largest freshwater lake situated in the desert is Lake Chad.
• The rivers Nile and Niger flow along the fringes of the desert.

Climate

• The climate is characterized by extreme temperatures where summer temperatures soar to almost 55°C while winter temperatures drop to 15°C, and even reach freezing point.
• Days are scorching hot while nights are freezing cold.
• Hot and dry winds blow across the desert region.
• Rain-bearing winds from the Atlantic Ocean lose most of their moisture by the time they reach this area. Thus, annual rainfall (less than 25 cm per year) is both unreliable and irregular.
• Hot, dry, and dusty winds such as the khamsin, sirocco, harmattan, and the simoon as well as sandstorms are very common here.
• There is a rise in temperature and decrease in humidity as one moves eastwards. The Libyan region is the most arid, and El-Azizia records very high temperatures crossing 48°C.

Natural Vegetation

• The desert is home to xerophytic vegetation such as small, spiny cacti bushes, and tufts of coarse grass that have adapted well to the lack of water by growing long roots, waxy leaves, fleshy stems, and spines.
• Date palms grow around the oases. They provide dates for food, the sap is used to make wine, and the leaves are used for fodder and to make thatch roofs.

Wildlife

• Animal species have adapted well to the extreme climatic conditions.
• Small desert animals escape the fierce heat by hiding during the day under stones or burrowing into the soil. They are usually swift runners and come out to feed at night.
• The camel, known as the 'ship of the desert', is well-suited to the environment, along with other animals like the addax, jackal, hyena, snakes, and lizards.

Life of the People

• Due to the extreme climate of the desert, it is difficult to lead a settled life. Many nomadic tribes traverse the Sahara.
• The Bedouins, Berbers, and Tuaregs practice animal rearing and move with their herds of camels, sheep, horses, and goats in search of water and grass.
• Camels are also used for transportation.
• People wear long, loose white robes to beat the heat and protect themselves from the dusty winds.

Agriculture and Resources

• Agriculture is practiced near the oases or in the river valleys such as the Nile Valley, where various crops and fruits are grown.
• The Sahara desert has rich reserves of mineral oil and natural gas in Libya, Egypt, and Algeria.
• The discovery of oil in this region has led to the migration of tribal people to various cities for a settled life.
• Mining is also an important occupation due to the availability of minerals like copper, iron ore, and manganese.
• The development of transport and communication has brought a change in the lives of people who inhabit the region.

Ladakh - The Physical Base:

• Ladakh, which means 'land of high passes' in Tibetan, is a cold, mountainous rocky desert situated east of Jammu and Kashmir in India.
• Located north of the Great Himalayas, Ladakh is bordered by the Karakoram Range in the north and the Zanskar Mountains in the south.
• Altitude in Ladakh ranges from 3,000m near Kargil to about 8,000m in the Karakoram Range, with an average height of 6,000m.
• Notable mountain passes like Khardung La provide access to Ladakh.
• The region is traversed by the upper course of the River Indus and its tributaries—Nubra, Shyok, Suru, and Zanskar—forming deep valleys and gorges that add some greenery to the otherwise barren landscape.
• Pangong Tso, a significant saltwater lake, is located in Ladakh.
• Climate:
  • Ladakh, lying in the rain shadow of the Great Himalayan Range, receives minimal rainfall, with an average annual precipitation of only about 10 cm.
  • Westerly disturbances and cold winds from Central Asia bring snowfall that feeds the region's glaciers.
  • The climate is extreme, with summer temperatures ranging from 30°C during the day to -30°C at night, while winter temperatures remain below freezing during the day and can drop as low as -35°C at night.
  • Winter sees heavy snowfall due to winds passing through the mountain passes.
• Natural Vegetation:
  • Ladakh's landscape is characterized by treeless, windswept terrain.
  • Most mountain slopes are barren, while the lower, warmer slopes near river valleys host some willow, cedar, elm, poplar, cypress, juniper, and yew trees.
  • During summer, trees like apples, apricots, and walnuts bloom, and alpine pastures with mosses and gentians are found at higher altitudes.
• Wildlife:
  • Due to sparse vegetation and harsh cold, Ladakh's fauna is limited.
  • In the brief summer season, animals like hare, marmots, barasingha, and lizards are observable.
  • Well-adapted to the climate and terrain, animals such as yak, mountain goats, sheep, Tibetan wild ass (kiang), antelopes, 'dzo' (a yak-cow hybrid), and various dogs inhabit the region.
  • Various bird species, including migratory ones like the black-necked crane, herons, pigeons, chikar, redstarts, Tibetan snowcock, and ravens, are also present in Ladakh.
• Life of the People:
  • Ladakh, one of the highest and driest inhabited places on Earth, is home to a resilient and self-sustaining culture.
  • The majority of the population in Ladakh is Tibetan Buddhist, evident from the numerous monasteries, prayer stones, and prayer wheels present.
  • The Ladakhi people have adapted to the harsh environment by developing a lifestyle in harmony with nature, leading to a stable population with a profound sense of peace and contentment.
  • The economy in Ladakh revolves around agriculture, animal rearing, and tourism, with activities like herding yak, sheep, and goats, weaving, agriculture, horticulture, and crafts production contributing to livelihoods.
  • Tourism, especially in urban areas like Leh, Dras, Kargil, and Diskit, is a significant source of income for many Ladakhis during the summer months.