Desert areas are characterised by low rainfall, scanty vegetation and extreme temperatures. Depending on the temperatures, there can be hot deserts or cold deserts. The Sahara desert is the hottest and the world’s largest desert. Ladakh is a cold desert that lies in the Great Himalayas on the eastern side of Jammu and Kashmir.
1. Answer the following questions.
(a) What are the two types of deserts found in the world?
Answer: There are two types of deserts in the world
- Hot Desert
- Cold Desert
(b) In which continent is the Sahara desert located?
Answer: The Sahara Desert is located in the continent of Africa. It covers a large part of North Africa.
(c) What are the climatic conditions of the Ladakh desert?
Answer: Ladakh is a cold desert that lies in the Great Himalayas. The altitude of Ladakh varies from 3000m to 8000m, because of which the climate is very cold and dry. The air at this altitude is very thin, and it intensifies the heat from the sun. The temperature in winter is less than –40°C, and the day temperature in summer is just above zero degrees.
(d) What mainly attracts tourists to Ladakh?
Answer: Tourism is a major activity, as plenty of tourists from India and abroad visit Ladakh every year. One of the main attractions is the Buddhist monasteries and gompas. Tourists also enjoy trekking to see the meadows and glaciers and witnessing the important ceremonies and festivities of Ladakh.
(e) What type of clothes do the people of the Sahara desert wear?
Answer: The people of the Sahara Desert wear heavy robes as protection against dust storms and wind.
(f) Name the trees that grow in Ladakh.
Answer: Trees like apples, apricots and walnuts grow during the summer season in Ladakh. Other than that, there are scanty patches of shrubs and grass for animals to graze. Due to the cold climate, there is not much fauna in this region.
2. Tick the correct answer.
(i) Sahara is located in which part of Africa?
(a) Eastern
(b) Northern
(c) Western
Answer: b
(ii) Sahara is what type of desert?
(a) Cold
(b) Hot
(c) Mild
Answer: b
(iii) The Ladakh desert is mainly inhabited by
(a) Christians and Muslims
(b) Buddhists and Muslims
(c) Christians and Buddhists
Answer: b
(iv) Deserts are characterised by
(a) Scanty vegetation
(b) Heavy precipitation
(c) Low evaporation
Answer: a
(v) Hemis in the Ladakh is a famous
(a) Temple
(b) Church
(c) Monastery
Answer: c
(vi) Egypt is famous for growing
(a) Wheat
(b) Maize
(c) Cotton
Answer: c
3. Match the following.
| (i) Oasis | (a) Libya |
| (ii) Bedouins | (b) Monastery |
| (iii) Oil | (c) Glacier |
| (iv) Gangri | (d) Depressions with water |
| (v) Lamayuru | (e) Cold desert |
| (f) Sahara |
Answer:
| (i) Oasis | (d) Depressions with water |
| (ii) Bedouins | (f) Sahara |
| (iii) Oil | (a) Libya |
| (iv) Gangri | (c) Glacier |
| (v) Lamayuru | (b) Monastery |
4. Give reasons.
(i) There is scanty vegetation in the deserts.
Answer: A desert is an area characterised by low rainfall, scanty vegetation and extreme temperature. These climatic conditions are not suitable for the growth of plants. This is why there is scanty vegetation in the deserts.
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(ii) People of the Sahara desert wear heavy robes.
Answer: The climate in the Sahara Desert is scorching hot, and the wind is dry. This is why the people of the Sahara Desert wear heavy robes to protect themselves from dust storms and dry wind.