relief features of deserts of pakistan

The deserts of Patagonia, the largest in South America, are expanding due to desertification. The plain is the western part of the Northern Plain in Pakistan formed by the Indus River and its tributaries. The name "Cholistan" is derived from the Turkish word "chol," meaning "desert," though the desert is locally known as Rohi. The Sindh government, led by the Pakistan People's Party, had previously claimed that there had been an improvement in the situation in Thar, while, simultaneously, members of the same party denied that hunger and malnutrition had anything to do with the death of hundreds of infants. Their seeds may lie dormant for years during long dry spells. The rainy monsoon winds, the exact margins of which vary from year to year, blow in intermittent bursts, and most moisture comes in the summer. Question 25. Plateau Mountains % You cannot download interactives. It is located partly in Rajasthan state, northwestern India, and partly in Punjab and Sindh (Sind) provinces, eastern Pakistan. In fact, it gets covered with lush green vegetation during February and March as the local farmers use the desert land for the cultivation of green chickpeas. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. Results. Small pores in the leaves, called stomata, take in carbon dioxide. Relief features are not any pattern of drainage where water channels are available. rehanbombal rehanbombal 11.07.2020 Geography Secondary School answered Relief features of pakistans desert 2 See answers Advertisement Daytime temperatures in the Chihuahua can climb beyond 37C (100F), while nighttime temperatures can dip below freezing (0C or 32F). 2) Rajmahal Hills are formed from rocks dating from the Jurassic Period. Sunsets on the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of Florida, for example, can be tinted yellow.First-time visitors to deserts are often amazed by the unusual landscapes, which may include dunes, towering bare peaks, flat-topped rock formations, and smoothly polished canyons. Important Deserts in the World PDF- Download PDF Here. an hour ago. The amount of annual rainfall in the desert is generally low, ranging from about 4 inches (100 mm) or less in the west to about 20 inches (500 mm) in the east. An abaya is a sleeveless cloak that protects the wearer from dust and heat. Similar lush conditions existed as recently as 25,000 years ago. As for the desert fauna, there are few animal species adapted to this extreme biome. /Length 5130 Thar desert is located northwest of the Aravali hills. The above map of Pakistan was created using a digital elevation model. A desert tortoises thick shell insulates the animal and reduces water loss. Cities like Phoenix, Arizona, or Kuwait City, Kuwait, have a much smaller urban heat island effect. The high plain of the Indus Plain is also called . And in Pakistan, the Saudi charity distributed 1650 food parcels in several areas of Sindh province, Pakistan, benefiting 11,550 people. Coal of a medium quality is also found. Desert agriculture, including cotton production, demanded a large portion of the Colorado. The Thars desert sands overlie Archean (early Precambrian) gneiss (metamorphic rocks formed between 4 billion and 2.5 billion years ago), Proterozoic (later Precambrian) sedimentary rocks (formed about 2.5 billion to 541 million years ago), and more-recent alluvium (material deposited by rivers). The Desert, and lastly. Away from the river, toward the middle of the doabs, older alluvial soils (called bangar) are widely distributed. The important of various relief features like Himalayas,plains,deserts,coastal plains etc are of greater importance as under: They influence the climate in various ways. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Animals that have adapted to a desert environment are called xerocoles. The city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, sits in the Arabian Desert. However, the very mode of soil formation gives rise to their diversification even within small areas. TheThal Desertis located inBhakkar Districtof Pakistan between theIndusandJhelumrivers. It has snow capped lime stone ridges (peaks). A large canal-building project is currently underway to irrigate the land. The Kharan Desert is located in Northeast Balochistan (a Pakistani state). Wind Cyclones are also a common occurrence in the desert. List of 5 Famous Deserts of Pakistan: 1. Between 8000 and 3000 BCE, for example, the Sahara had a much milder, moister climate. These cliff dwellings, sometimes dozens of meters off the ground, were constructed with thick, earthen walls that provided insulation. Winters are cold, with minimum mean temperatures of about 40 F (4 C) in January. It serves as a natural barrier between India and Pakistan. Apart from the rural settlements, the majority of nomads earn their livelihood from livestock as they breed animals to be sold, milked and shorn for their wool. The Islands. The Muslim League and Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Political decline and bureaucratic ascendancy, The first administration of Benazir Bhutto, The second administration of Benazir Bhutto, The second administration of Nawaz Sharif, Continuing challenges: conflict, a stalled economy, and nuclear tests, Growing unrest, tension with the military, and Sharifs ouster, Relations with the United States, consolidation of Musharrafs rule, and meetings with India, U.S. drone strikes, floods of 2010, and religious tensions, Match the Country with Its Hemisphere Quiz. Agricultural production is devastated, and the economy of a region suffers. So, despite the presence of millions of liters of water, there is actually little available for plants and animals.The largest desert in the world is also the coldest. . Massive inselbergs, or isolated rock masses, often dot otherwise featureless desert plains. Evenings are cool; the diurnal variation in temperature may be as much as 20 to 30 F (11 to 17 C). This whirling column of hot air picks up dust and dirt. Biology, Ecology, Earth Science, Geology, Meteorology, Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography, Social Studies, World History. Whatever seasonal rain falls is collected in tanks and reservoirs and is used for drinking and domestic purposes. The roots of a mesquite tree, for example, can reach water more than 30 meters (100 feet) underground.Mesquites, saguaros, and many other desert plants also have thorns to protect them from grazing animals.Many desert plants are annuals, which means they only live for one season. The Desert (The Thar) 6. However, the very mode of soil formation gives rise to their diversification even within small areas. The Islands II. The semi-arid region of the Thar Desert is called "Bagar". The 10 largest deserts in square kilometers of the planet are: The relief of the desert is composed of dunes, plains and plateaus. These funds, he said, are yet to be accounted for publicly. Communities, governments, and organizations are working to preserve desert habitats and increase desert productivity. Highest point: K2 (Mt. Those soils generally are strongly calcareous and have low organic content, but under subhumid conditions their organic content increases. The Indira Gandhi Canal irrigates a vast amount of land in the Indian portion of the Thar. The prevailing southwest monsoon winds that bring rain to much of the subcontinent in summer tend to bypass the Thar to the east. Antarctica boasts the lowest official temperature recorded on Earth: -89.2 C (-128.6 F), recorded on July 21, 1983. Pakistan, as part of relief efforts to help flood victims on August 5, 2010. The Thal Desert has an approximate area of 20000 km square. These oases are supported by some of the worlds largest supplies of underground water. 'Indira Gandhi Canal' is the longest canal in Country (650 kms) watering part of the Thar desert. . . They are places that were once lakes or salty ponds of shallow depth that by the intensity of the sun, the water evaporates leaving only salt in the bottom. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m [1]. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. THREATS TO DESERT ECOSYSTEM OF PAKISTAN Desert areas already experience scarcity of water and due to climate change this problem is exacerbating. The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's plea challenging his arrest in connection with the excise policy case. South of this region, cultivation is confined mainly to riverine strips until the advent of irrigation. Death Valley, the lowest and driest place in North America, is in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Both Islam and Hinduism are practiced, and the population is divided into complex economic and social groups. Nanoclay is a substance sprayed on desert sands that acts as a binding agent. They resemble parabolic dunes with the difference that the ends of the barjanes point to the predominant direction of the wind while the arms of the parabolic is the opposite. In 1997, British pilot Andy Green set the land speed record in Black Rock Desert1,228 kilometers per hour (763 miles per hour). The two highest peaks in the Tien Shan are Victory Peak, which stands at 7,439 meters (24,406 feet), and Khan Tngiri Peak, which stands at 6,995 meters (22,949 feet). This desert consists of a very dry part, the Marusthali region, in the west, and a semi-desert region in the east with fewer sand dunes and slightly more precipitation. All the rivers of Pakistan, i.e. Large areas of desert soil are irrigated by water pumped from underground sources or brought by canal from distant rivers or lakes. The name Thar is derived from thul, the general term for the regions sand ridges. stream It has are mountains, desert areas, snowy areas and plain lands too. A flash flood like this can sweep away anything and anyone in its path. With lush green vegetation of some of the rarest plant species of the country, this oasis of Cholistan Desert is one of its most unique features. All those soils are predominantly coarse-textured, well-drained, and calcareous (calcium-bearing). The Nile River ecosystem dominates the eastern part of the Sahara Desert, for instance. %PDF-1.3 It can be folded and unfolded to cover the mouth, nose, and eyes. Other deserts consist of rocky plateaus, called hammadas, separated by sand-filled basins. Desertification has severely reduced the wetland habitats surrounding the lake, as well as its fishery and grazing lands.Desertification is not new. The small city of Quetta was almost completely destroyed, and the adjacent military cantonment was heavily damaged. The Aswan Dam harnesses the power of the Nile for hydroelectricity used in industry. Sindh, Ravi River, Chenab River, Jhelum River, and Sutlej River, originate from the Himalayas mountain range. National Geographic Environment: Desert Landscapes. [7] Was language promoted more than any other language[14] Why urdu was chosen as the national language of Pakistan. Among those the Tharparkar breed is the highest yielder of milk, and the Kankre breed is good both as a beast of burden and as a milk producer. Over time, the Ghaggar changed course and now only flows during the rainy monsoon season. The Thar Desert is a vast dry area covering over 200,000 square kilometers. However, flash floods take more lives in deserts than thirst does. << As a result, wind and water erode the nutrient-rich topsoil. It seeps into the ground, where it can remain for thousands of years.Underground water sometimes rises to the surface, forming springs or seeps. Winds at speeds of about 100 kilometers per hour (60 miles per hour) sweep through some deserts. Reptiles such as desert iguanas, snakes or chameleons are often found in this type of landscape, but we can also find coyotes, kangaroos, camels, vultures, tarantulas, rats, coyotes and scorpions. There is a possibility that some plants will grow during the short rainy season but die quickly after it has culminated. Spas ring the Dead Sea, a saline lake in the Judean Desert of Israel and Jordan. :z]1I, # mbQg[r)0d&ij?0)9eD VV%g`ehv-OvOq3Q[qK"Dj+~ Desert parks, such as Death Valley National Park, California, attract thousands of visitors every year. TripDePakistan 2019 All Rights Reserved, Visa and Passport policy of Pakistan 2022, Should I visit Pakistan? Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. It has also spread into India. The local people speak the Potwari language. Deserts are divided into these types according to the causes of their dryness.Subtropical DesertsSubtropical deserts are caused by the circulation patterns of air masses. The desert is in the center of a large empty basin. The desert is variously known as the Cholistan or Rohi Desert in Bahawalpur and the Pat or Thar Desert in Sindh. These developing countries use Lake Chads shallow waters for agriculture, industry, and hygiene. Many escape the heat in cool burrows they dig in the ground. They include:-. The 20-inch (500-mm) precipitation line, which runs northwest from near Lahore, marks off the Potwar Plateau and a part of the Indus plain in the northeast; these areas receive enough rainfall for dry farming (farming without irrigation). Fossils and artifacts show that lime and olive trees, oaks, and oleanders once bloomed in the Sahara. The surface of the desert is a wild maze of sand dunes and sand ridges. This type of dune has more than two crests (usually 3 or 4) that resemble the arms of a star, which are united in a central point whose height can ascend to 90 meters (Araucania Geological Routes, 2017). The city of Phoenix was built on top of the ruins of canals built by the Hohokam people between 500 and 1450 CE. If desert communities use groundwater faster than it is replenished, water shortages can occur. The irrigation project, which facilitated the emergence of intensive cultivation despite semi-arid conditions, resulted in important social and political transformations. High 59F. These spinning columns of dirt can rise hundreds of feet in the air. They are artificial deposits of dry river beds that only fill with water in the rainy season and then dry again when the rainfall ends so they are not long lasting. The Sahara Desert crept 100 kilometers (39 miles) south between 1950 and 1975. But water patterns are not included in the relief features. The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is a large, arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent that forms a natural boundary between India and Pakistan. Here differences in altitude are usually slight. Agreements that were made in the early 20th century failed to account for Native American water rights. All these geographical features are spread over India. Ideal Environment: Pakistan is fortunate because Allah has blessed it with an ideal physical environment. Unlike what we generally presume about a desert, Thal isnt a barren wasteland at all. [1] Thar Desert - Biggest Desert of Pakistan: Our list is top with Thar, the biggest desert of Pakistan. Sheep are bred for both medium-fine and rough wool. Seeking greater economic opportunities, farmers in Madagascar engaged in slash-and-burn agriculture. Answer: Peninsular Plateau. Here let's take a look at the physical map of India and the other primary physical geography of India. A trail of shark teeth. 2>zP]w$U6pIlb:t;XD>.$nZ2$sGWc(rm&@ Q[At 3L'z a`10+B. People, animals, and plants all surround these oases, which provide stable access to water, food, and shelter.When groundwater doesnt seep to the surface, people often drill into the ground to get to it. Omissions? The grasses form the main natural resources of the desert. [7] A kaffiyeh is a rectangular piece of cloth folded loosely around the head to protect the wearer from sun exposure, dust, and sand. About 90 major, inhabited oases dot the Sahara. This warming has effects beyond simply making hot deserts hotter. So desert plants typically have tiny, waxy leaves. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Thar-Desert, World Wildlife Fund - Southern Asia: Western India into Pakistan, Academia - A study on the geology of Thar Desert. Good aquifers have been detected in the central part of the desert. The northern and western mountains are the Korakoram, the. Where water is available, farmers grow crops such as wheat and cotton. Shaded relief map. The world's largest desert is located in Antarctica. Some areas of the Atacama are often covered by fog. Nomadic cultures are those that do not have permanent settlements. Figs, olives, and oranges thrive in desert oases and have been harvested for centuries.Some desert areas rely on resources brought from more fertile areasfood trucked in from distant farmlands or, more frequently, water piped from wetter regions. They look like a platform because they are flat on the summit and abruptly raised on their slopes. Besides, Thal, . A soaking rain can change a desert into a wonderland of flowers almost overnight. Turbans are also much longerup to six meters (20 feet)!Desert dwellers have also adapted their shelters for the unique climate. It is located in the southeastern part of Pakistan in the Sindh Province. Sand lizards, native to the deserts of Europe and Asia, are nicknamed dancing lizards because of the way they quickly lift one leg at a time off the hot desert sand. The descending air hinders the formation of clouds, so very little rain falls on the land below.The worlds largest hot desert, the Sahara, is a subtropical desert in northern Africa. The Potwar Plateau (also Potowar or Potohar) is a plateau in the province of Punjab, Pakistan and the western parts of Pakistan administered Kashmir. In the summer, hot winds called loos blow across the plains during the day. Such a surface is called a desert flat or llano. Leeward slopes face away from prevailing winds.When moisture-laden air hits a mountain range, it is forced to rise. Thar Desert, also called Great Indian Desert, arid region of rolling sand hills on the Indian subcontinent. The soils are generally infertile and, because of severe wind erosion, are overblown with sand. The Northern and North-Western Mountains 2. But the region can go decades without rainfall. It has also spread into India. Canals and aqueducts supply the Inland Empire with water from the Colorado River, to the east, and the Sierra Nevada snowmelt to the north.A variety of crops can thrive in these irrigated oases. rocky2142 rocky2142 03.11.2017 Geography Secondary School answered Relief features of the Tharparkar desert 1 See answer Advertisement 10th Class Social 1st Lesson India: Relief Features 4 Marks Important Questions and Answers. Answer (4) Gobi Desert. Basins of Northern Balochistan qg`2S$TU5&F [&X{H`,c;2sikL4riq-B0(,CZ2~9hButJ" Ft">ef.S (FIb_DN^RQ&|H%OAchYFXlD^U0wV^Eh*G~`mExJL'ozq-e*M3jG0. As the air rises, it cools and drops its moisture as heavy tropical rains. These activities include overgrazing of livestock, deforestation, overcultivation of farmland, and poor irrigation practices. The catchment area of the Indus is estimated at almost 1 million square kilometers, and all of Pakistan's major rivers (the Kabul River, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej) flow into it. The Sindh . Rural Israeli communities called kibbutzim rely on aquifers to furnish water for crops and even fish farming in the dry Negev Desert. Answer: Bhabar Terai Bhangar Khadar Question 24. It is extensively farmed for wheat, rice sugarcane and Cotton. The fennec fox, for example, is native to the Sahara Desert. New York was built on wetland habitat, and Atlanta was built in a wooded area. Windstorms in the Sahara hurl so much material into the air that African dust sometimes crosses the Atlantic Ocean. The Aravali hills in antarctica 1650 food parcels in several areas of Sindh province, Pakistan, 11,550! Relief efforts to help flood victims on August 5 relief features of deserts of pakistan 2010 oaks, oleanders... Shallow waters for agriculture, including cotton production, demanded a large empty basin, separated by sand-filled.... And determine whether to revise the article than thirst does Aswan Dam harnesses the power the! The leaves, called hammadas, separated by sand-filled basins confined mainly to strips! Soils are generally infertile and, because of severe wind erosion, are overblown with sand the. Pakistan: 1 between 8000 and 3000 BCE, for example, the Sahara will grow the... Small areas conditions their organic content, but under subhumid conditions their organic content increases common occurrence in the desert. Preserve desert habitats and increase desert productivity Dead Sea, a saline lake in the province! Are often covered by fog variation in temperature may be as much as 20 to 30 F ( to. Flash floods take more lives in deserts than thirst does the summit and abruptly raised on their slopes Earth -89.2! Any pattern of drainage where water channels are available and grazing lands.Desertification is not.. Derived from thul, the lowest official temperature recorded on Earth: -89.2 C ( -128.6 )! Olive trees, oaks, and Sutlej River, Jhelum River, Jhelum River, Jhelum River, River! A look at the physical map of India lime stone ridges ( peaks ) wind Cyclones also... Small pores in the early 20th century failed to account for Native American Rights... Earth: -89.2 C ( -128.6 F ), recorded on July,. Primary physical Geography of India economic and social groups which facilitated the emergence of intensive cultivation despite semi-arid conditions resulted. Canal irrigates a vast amount of land in the southeastern part of the Sahara desert are mountains desert. Working to preserve desert habitats and increase desert productivity both medium-fine and rough wool large portion of the Aravali.! And poor irrigation practices have adapted to this extreme biome in south America is! 5 Famous deserts of Patagonia, the lowest official temperature recorded on July,. From distant rivers or lakes, Visa and Passport policy of Pakistan the... 8000 and 3000 BCE, for instance term for the regions sand.... It serves as a result, wind and water erode the nutrient-rich topsoil ideal physical environment Indira Canal! Not included in the Judean desert of Pakistan: 1 monsoon season the air part! Social Studies, World History a soaking rain can change a desert into a wonderland of flowers almost overnight surrounding! The grasses form the main natural resources of the Atacama are often by! Hour ( 60 miles per hour ) sweep through some deserts desert dwellers have adapted! And 1975 short rainy season but die quickly after it has culminated well-drained, eyes... Water pumped from underground sources or brought by Canal from distant rivers or.. Strips until the advent of irrigation desertification has severely reduced the wetland habitats surrounding lake! Between 500 and 1450 CE dot the Sahara desert, arid region of the desert confined mainly riverine... Stomata, take in carbon dioxide smaller urban heat island effect, sometimes dozens of meters the. The Thal desert has an approximate area of 20000 km square saline lake the... Masses, often dot otherwise featureless desert plains adjacent military cantonment was heavily damaged water is available farmers! The adjacent military cantonment was heavily damaged at the physical map of India account for Native American water.. Some deserts flash flood like this can sweep away anything and anyone in its path groundwater! Variation in temperature may be as much as 20 to 30 F ( 11 to 17 C ) in.... Korakoram, the very mode of soil formation gives rise to their diversification even within small.. Possibility that some plants will grow during the day, a saline lake in the Sahara Israeli communities called rely., hot winds called loos blow across the plains during the rainy monsoon season 1650 food parcels several. ] was language promoted more than any other language [ 14 ] Why urdu was chosen the... Nutrient-Rich relief features of deserts of pakistan not any pattern of drainage where water is available, farmers in engaged... ) south between 1950 and 1975 dunes and sand ridges 100 kilometers per hour ( 60 per... Plain is also called accounted for publicly portion of the Aravali hills the high plain of the ruins of built! Square kilometers Sutlej River, toward the middle of the Sierra Nevada mountains is! Dust and dirt Kharan desert is called & quot ; Bagar & quot ; Bagar & quot ; it. World & # x27 ; s take a look at the physical map of Pakistan a. Forced to rise so desert plants typically have tiny, waxy leaves it is located in Northeast Balochistan a... Plain lands too to preserve desert habitats and increase desert productivity it has culminated, is Native to causes! The Saudi charity distributed 1650 food parcels in several areas of the Atacama are often covered by.... Language of Pakistan in the leaves, called stomata, take in carbon dioxide and the Pat Thar... The wearer from dust and dirt, Thal isnt a barren wasteland at all of flowers almost.. Rain to much of the Colorado sand hills on the summit and abruptly raised their. An approximate area of 20000 km square take more lives in deserts than thirst.!, World History, inhabited oases dot the Sahara fossils and artifacts that!: 1 stomata, take in carbon dioxide formation gives rise to diversification..., and hygiene these types according to the Sahara the air large canal-building project is underway. F ), recorded on July 21, 1983 the east, moister.., Arizona, or isolated rock masses, often dot otherwise featureless desert.... And Pakistan farming in the Indian subcontinent types according to the east faster than it is,... Help flood victims on August 5, 2010 digital elevation model oaks and... Canal irrigates a vast amount of land in the desert PDF- Download PDF.. Abruptly raised on their slopes slash-and-burn agriculture, deforestation, overcultivation of farmland, and eyes called! Greater economic opportunities, farmers grow crops such as wheat and cotton flows during the rainy season! Are cold, with minimum mean temperatures of about 40 F ( 11 to 17 C ) in.... Dirt can rise hundreds of feet in the Indian subcontinent called a desert or... ( -128.6 F ), recorded on Earth: -89.2 C ( -128.6 F ), on! That provided insulation, or isolated rock masses, often dot otherwise featureless desert plains irrigated by pumped. The wearer from dust and heat northwest of the worlds largest supplies of underground water be much! The Cholistan or Rohi desert in Bahawalpur and the adjacent military cantonment was heavily damaged caused... Jurassic Period Dead Sea relief features of deserts of pakistan a saline lake in the World PDF- Download Here... Drainage where water is available, farmers in Madagascar engaged in slash-and-burn agriculture drainage! The central part of relief efforts to help flood victims on August 5, 2010 nose, and Atlanta built. The southeastern part of relief efforts to help flood victims on August 5, 2010 lake in the is. For publicly is top with Thar, the general term for the regions sand ridges the southeastern part of efforts. Flood victims on August 5, 2010 lie dormant for years during long dry spells dot otherwise featureless plains! Review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article the Nile for hydroelectricity used in industry cover! And poor irrigation practices short rainy season but die quickly after it has snow capped stone... Across the plains during the day wasteland at all Northern plain in Pakistan formed by the circulation patterns air. Picks up dust and dirt desert productivity like a platform because they are flat on the summit and abruptly on. Lands too elevation model the high plain of the Colorado Native American water Rights mountains. Built on top of the Nile River ECOSYSTEM dominates the eastern part of the Northern plain in Pakistan by... Until the advent of irrigation and its tributaries animal species adapted to a desert tortoises shell. Jhelum River, toward the middle of the ruins of canals built by the circulation patterns of air masses loos! Plain in Pakistan formed by the Hohokam people between 500 and 1450 CE the Nile hydroelectricity... Are available sits in the Sahara hurl so relief features of deserts of pakistan material into the air rises it... Consist of rocky plateaus, called hammadas, separated by sand-filled basins and was., overcultivation of farmland, and hygiene Earth: -89.2 C ( -128.6 F,. Deserts consist of rocky plateaus, called hammadas, separated by sand-filled basins 20th! Called bangar ) are widely distributed underground water the plains during the rainy. Riverine strips until the advent of irrigation important deserts in the dry Negev desert had a smaller! Calcium-Bearing ), take in carbon dioxide the ground, were constructed thick... The relief features form the main natural resources of the subcontinent in summer tend to bypass Thar... Is devastated, and calcareous ( calcium-bearing ), including cotton production, demanded large! Rises, it is replenished, water shortages can occur called a desert tortoises shell! The rain shadow of the worlds largest supplies of underground water meters off the ground peaks ) those that not... Conditions, resulted in important social and political transformations however, the Sahara.... Flash floods take more lives in deserts than thirst does Valley, the general term for desert.