Deserts Of Pakistan, make up a large part of the country’s geography, especially in the central and south-eastern regions. These areas receive very little rainfall and have large tracts of barren wastelands, with the formation of sand dunes rising sometimes to 150 m above ground level. The desert areas also support wildlife including desert gazelles, bustards, jackals, foxes, wild cats, lizards, and snakes, etc. Also, read Plateaus of Pakistan.
How many deserts in Pakistan
There are five major deserts in Pakistan.
Names of deserts in Pakistan
- Thar Desert
- Cholistan Desert
- Thal Desert
- Kharan Desert
- Katpana Desert (Cold Desert)
Main deserts in Pakistan
Thar Desert
Thar is the world’s 17th largest desert located in Pakistan. This desert also enters the boundary of India therefore it is one of the largest deserts of Asia. It covers an area of 175,000 square kilometers and covers large areas of Pakistan and India. About 85% of the Thar Desert is in India, and the remaining part in Pakistan. In Pakistan, the desert covers eastern Sindh province and the southeastern portion of Pakistan’s Punjab province. Rainfall in the area is very low and the climate is harsh with temperatures ranging from near-freezing up to 50°C.
Cholistan Desert
It covers an area of about 16,000 square km and extends into the Thar Desert of India. The south border area of Bahawalpur division is known as Cholistan. The average annual rainfall is only 12 cm, and the little cultivation is made possible by underground wells, drawn up by the camels. Due to shortage of rainfall the areas of Cholistan desert have become dry barren land. The soil of desert is fertile but due to lack of water facilities the cultivation is not possible. Sand dunes can be seen everywhere in the desert.
Thal Desert
The Thal deserts situated in Punjab, Pakistan. It is located between the Jhelum and Sindh rivers near the Potohar Plateau. The total length from north to south is 190 miles and a maximum breadth is 70 miles (110 km) and minimum breadth is 20 miles. The desert covers the districts of Bhakkar, Khushab, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh as well as Jhang, from the left bank of the river Jhelum. Here rainfall is very low and scattered. Sand dunes are seen everywhere. Large area of the Thal desert is irrigated by canal of river Indus.
Kharan Desert
This is also called the Sandy Desert. It is located in the Province of Balochistan. It covers an area of about 48,051 sq. km. t is basically covered with sand dunes and scrub vegetation. Rainfall is very limited in the desert leaving it with dry lakes. The land is not fit for agriculture due to low irrigation. The altitude of this desert moves from about 1000 m in the north to approximately 250 m in the southwest. The average rainfall in the desert is about 100 mm annually. Hamun-e-Mashkhel is the largest Saltish Seasonal dry lake of this desert. Read more
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