• Desert is an arid region characterized by extremely high or low temperatures and has scarce vegetation.
• Depending on the temperature, there can be hot deserts or cold deserts.
• The Hot Desert-Sahara:
(i) Sahara Desert in Africa is the world’s largest hot desert.
(ii) It touches 11 countries and has got gravel plains and elevated plateaus with bare rocky surface.
(iii) The climate of Sahara is scorching hot and parch dry with temperature as high as 50°C .
(iv) The nights are freezing cold with temperature nearing zero degrees.
(v) Vegetation in the Sahara Desert includes cactus, date palms and acacia. Camels,
hyenas, jackals, foxes, scorpions, snakes and lizards are the main animal species found here.
(vi) Despite its harsh climate, Sahara is inhabited by various groups of people. The main groups are Bedouins and Tuaregs.
(vii) The oasis in the Sahara and the Nile Valley in Egypt supports settled population.
(viii) The discovery of oil is constantly transforming this region. Other important minerals
found here are iron, phosphorus, manganese and uranium.
(ix) More and more nomadic tribes are taking to city life.
• The Cold-Desert-Ladakh:
(i) Ladakh is a cold desert lying in the Great Himalayas, on the eastern side of Jammu and Kashmir.
(ii) The altitude in Ladakh varies from 3,000 m in Kargil to more than 8,000 m in Karakoram.
(iii) The area experiences freezing winds and burning hot sunlight.
(iv) Due to high aridity, the vegetation is sparse. Groves of willows and poplars are seen in the valleys.
(v) The animals of Ladakh are wild goats, wild sheep, yak and special kinds of dogs.
(vi) The animals are reared as they provide milk, meat and hides.
(vii) The population consists of either Muslims or Buddhists.
(viii) Some famous Buddhist monasteries are Hemis, Thiksey, Shey and Lamyuru.
(ix) In summer season, the people are busy cultivating barley, potatoes, peas, beans and turnips.
(x) Tourism is a major activity with several tourists streaming in from within India and abroad.
(xi) People of Ladakh have over the centuries learnt to live in balance and harmony with nature.