Page 294 - New Medley 4 Semester 1

The Great Indian Desert is drained by a number of short seasonal streams.

Luni is the only river, which flows through the desert. It is also a seasonal
river.

At some places in the desert areas, the underground water comes to the
surface. These are called oases. These are permanent sources of water.

The land is fertile and people settle down around oases.

The Great Indian Desert remains very hot during the daytime and cool

at night. Most of the desert areas do not receive rainfall for many years.
Trees cannot grow in such climatic conditions. Only plants with thorns

and long roots can exist in very hot and dry climate.

The shortage of water is the main problem in the Great Indian Desert.

Even for cooking food, the women bring water
from far-off places. The Rajasthan Canal or
the Indira Gandhi Canal has been built to

bring water from the Satluj river to solve this

problem. This is the longest canal in India.

The desert area in the Great Indian Desert

is increasing due to cutting of trees and Indira Gandhi Canal
overgrazing of sheep and goats.

Life of People in the Thar Desert

Due to the harsh climate, the life of people is not comfortable in the

desert areas. Therefore the western desert region in India is very sparsely
populated. Most of the villages in the desert are around oases, where the

underground water comes to the surface. This water is used for domestic
and agricultural purposes.

The main occupation of the people is animal rearing, such as sheep,
goats and camels. Most of the people move from one place to another

in search of food and water for themselves as well as for the animals.
Such people are called nomads or banjaras.

The camel is the most useful animal in the life of the people living in
the Great Indian Desert. It can tolerate heat, live without water for many

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