The
arid Thar Desert or the Great Indian Desert is the world's seventh
largest Desert and is located in Western India and Southeastern
Pakistan. In Pakistan the land of golden sand-dunes is known as
Cholistan Desert. The Thar Desert is bounded on the northwest by the
Sutlej River, on the east by the Aravalli Range, on the south by the
salt marsh known as the Rann of Kutch, and on the west by the Indus
Valley. The desert is about 800 km long and 490 km wide and three-fifth
of the Desert lies mostly in the state of Rajasthan; but stretches
minorly in the states of Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana.The sand-dunes, dune free plains and the hills are the three principal landforms of the Thar Desert. Rainfall is sparse in the region averaging to 127 to 254 mm annually. The sand dunes in Southern Desert region are as high as 152 m while the north has sand dunes as low as 16 m in height. The temperatures in the region are on extreme with the summer temperature soaring as high as 53 degree C and the winter months dipping to as low as 10 degree C and below. The Desert region also has a large number of Saline Lakes locally known as dhands.
The diversified topography of the Desert region has resulted in a rich flora and fauna at Thar. The rich but sparse vegetation at Thar includes tree species, small shrubs and medicinal herbs. The Desert is rich in animal and avian population, in fact some of the endangered species of the fauna is found nowhere but in Thar region like the Blackbuck, Indian Gazelle, Indian Wild Ass and the Great Indian Bustard. Agriculture and animal-husbandry are the two principal occupations of the region however due to sparse rainfall agriculture takes a back seat and one finds more number of pastoralists in the region. Hide and wool Industries are also famous in the region. There has been an increase in the number of livestock lately here which has led to overgrazing and has affected the vegetation of the Desert. One of the fast growing Industries here is eco-tourism which invites large number of populace to visit the sun-kissed Thar Desert, enjoy the Camel safari and the heritage of Jaisalmer by visiting the architectural marvels of the region.