Life in the Deserts Class 7 Geography NCERT Chapter 10

Key Features of NCERT Material for Class 7 Geography Chapter 10 – Life in the Deserts 

In this chapter, we will learn about the cold desert in Ladakh and the Sahara Desert in Africa.

Quick revision notes

Deserts are characterized by low precipitation, poor vegetation, and extreme temperatures. 

Moreover, There are hot deserts and cold deserts, depending on their extreme temperatures. 

The Hot Desert – Sahara 

• The Sahara Desert in Africa is the world’s biggest hot desert. 
• It touches 11 nations and has got gravel plains and elevated Plateaus with an exposed rocky surface. 
• The atmosphere of the Sahara is extreme, scorched hot and parched dry with temperatures as high as 50° C. 
• So, the evenings are freezing cold with the temperature approaching zero degrees. 
• Vegetation in the Sahara Desert incorporates cactus, date palms and acacia. Whereas, main animals here are Camels, hyenas, jackals, foxes, scorpions, snakes and lizards.
• In spite of its unforgiving atmosphere, Sahara is possessed by different gatherings of individuals. Bedouins and Tuaregs are the main groups.
• The oasis in the Sahara and the Nile Valley in Egypt bolsters the settled population. 
• The discovery of oil is continually changing this area. Other significant minerals discovered here are iron, phosphorus, manganese and uranium. 
• So, an ever-increasing number of migrant clans are taking to city life. 

The Cold Desert – Ladakh 

• Ladakh is a cold and dry desert in the Great Himalayas, on the eastern side of Jammu and Kashmir. 
• The altitude in Ladakh shifts from 3,000 m in Kargil to more than 8,000 m in the Karakoram. 
• This zone, encounters freezing winds and scorching hot daylight. 
• Because of high aridity, the vegetation is meagre. Groves of willows and poplars are found in the valleys. 
• Whereas, creatures of Ladakh are wild goats, wild sheep, yak and special sorts of dogs. 
• The creatures are raised as they give milk, meat and hides. 
• The population comprises either Muslims or Buddhists. 
• Some celebrated Buddhist monasteries are Hemis, Thiksey, Shey and Lamayuru. 
• In the summer season, the individuals are caught up with growing grain, potatoes, peas, beans and turnips. 
• The travel industry is a significant action with vacationers coming in from inside India and abroad as well.
• Individuals of Ladakh have figured out over the hundreds,  how to live in balance and harmony with nature. 
• The Pashmina wool of this district is acclaimed. 
• Leh and Kargil are the primary towns in Ladakh. 

A desert is a stark piece of the landscape which receives low rainfall and so the living conditions are  difficult for plant and animal life

The Sahara Desert

Sahara is a hot desert covering an enormous piece of North Africa and Ladakh is a cold desert situated in the Great Himalayas on the eastern side of Jammu and Kashmir in India. 

The Sahara is the world’s biggest desert. 

It touches eleven African nations—Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia and Western Sahara. 

The Sahara desert is the tremendous stretches of sand.  gravel plains and raised plateaus with an uncovered rocky surface as well.

The atmosphere of the Sahara desert is extreme, scorching hot and parched dry. The rainy season is short. The day temperature may take off as high as 50°C. But, the evenings might be freezing cold. 

Vegetation in the Sahara desert includes prickly plants, date, palms and acacia. Although, Date palms are found close to an oasis. So far creatures concerned are camels, hyenas, jackals, foxes, scorpions, many assortments of snakes and lizards are found in this desert. 

Different groups of individuals, for example, the Bedouins and Tuaregs live in the Sahara desert. These groups are a nomadic tribe and they raise goats, sheep, camels and horses. They get milk and hides from these creatures. These nomadic tribes wear heavy robes to shield themselves from dust storms and hot breezes. 

Individuals get water from the oasis in the Sahara desert and the Nile valley in Egypt. They cultivate crops like rice, wheat, barley and beans. 

The Sahara desert is experiencing fast change because of the discovery of oil in Algeria, Libya and Egypt. Different minerals discovered here are iron, phosphorus, manganese and uranium. 

The cultural landscape of the Sahara is changing as well. Shining glass case office buildings overs mosques and superhighways have taken the place of ancient camel ways. Trucks are overtaking camels in the salt trade. Tuaregs act  guides for foreign travellers. 

With changing times, nomadic herders are now moving to cities for better openings for work in oil and gas operations. 

Ladakh

Ladakh is a cold and dry desert. The Karakoram runs in the north and the Zanskar mountains in the south. A few rivers move through Ladakh. Many glaciers are found here, for instance, the Gangotri glacier. 

The atmosphere of Ladakh is incredibly cold and dry. The day temperatures in summer are just over zero degree and the night temperatures are underneath – 30°C. This desert gets next to no precipitation. There is always a possibility of both sunstroke and frostbite. 

Ladakh has scanty vegetation. There are inadequate patches of grasses. Groves of willows and poplars are found in the valleys. 

Many types of birds, for example, robins, redstarts, Tibetan snow cockerel, raven and hoopoe are found here. The creatures of Ladakh are wild goats, wild sheep, yak and special sorts of dogs. 

Individuals living in this desert are either Muslims or Buddhists. 

Popular Buddhist religious communities are Hemis, Thiksey, Shey and Lamayuru. 

Individuals cultivate crops like barley, potatoes, peas beans and turnips throughout the summer season. Throughout the winter months, they engage in celebrations and services. 

The ladies of Ladakh are hardworking. They can oversee indoor and outdoor activities skilfully. 

The capital of Ladakh is Leh. 

Ladakh is a popular traveller place. The tourists from inside India and abroad prefer to visit the gompas. 

Modernization is happening in Ladakh. Be that as it may, individuals are exceptionally conscious. They are aware of the ways to live in balance and harmony with nature. 

Desert: 

It is a dry zone with extremely high or low temperatures and scanty vegetation. 

Oasis:

It is a zone in the desert where there is water and where plants develop. 

Shahtoosh:

 Chiru or the Tibetan eland has this type of fleece.

Gangri:

It is a glacier in Ladakh. 

Tuaregs:

The nomads of the Sahara desert. 

Bedouins:

The nomads of the Sahara desert. 

Khapa-chan:

Ladakh is known by this name as well. It implies snow land.