Major Hot Deserts of India

India's hot deserts are dry areas with little to no vegetation, extremely high temperatures. The Great Indian Desert, usually referred to as the Thar Desert, is the seventeenth biggest hot desert in the world. Rajasthan is home to the majority of the Thar Desert. This golden sand desert changes into a brilliant white salt desert as it continues towards Gujarat. Astonishing desert landscapes can also be found in the northern part of the nation.

Features of Hot Desert of India

Here are the descriptions of hot desert of India −

Thar Desert

The northwest of the Indian subcontinent contains the vast and arid Thar Desert, commonly referred to as the Great Indian Desert. It stretches across an area of around 200,000 km² and serves as a natural boundary between Pakistan and India. The Thar Desert occupies about 85% of India and the remaining 15% of Pakistan. Approximately 4.56% of India's total geographical area is made up by the Thar Desert. The Great Indian Desert is made up of the Rann of Kutch on the western coast, the Indus River's alluvial plains in the northwest, Punjab and Haryana in the north, and the Aravali Hills in the northeast.

The desert itself is referred to as Marusthali (dead land) because of its harsh environment and limited plant life. The Marushthali generally has shifting sand dunes in the west and rocky terrain in the east. Bagar is the name for the semi-arid area west of the Aravallis. Bagar has a small covering of sand. The southern portion is drained by Luni, whereas the northern portion has many salt lakes. The Rajasthan Bagar region contains a number of brief seasonal streams that originate in the Aravallis.

These streams help agriculture in some fertile regions known as Rohi. Even the most prominent river, the "Luni," is a seasonal stream. Southwest of Ajmer, in the Pushkar valley of the Aravalli Range, the Luni River flows into the Rann of Kutch. The region to the north of Luni is known as the Thali, or sand plain. Some streams, like the Sambhar Lake, show a typical instance of inland drainage when they stop flowing after running for a period and join a lake or playa. The brackish water found in lakes and playas is the principal source of salt.

Fauna

The blackbuck, chinkara, and Indian wild ass are just a few of the wildlife species that are abundant in the desert yet are quickly becoming extinct in other regions of India. Numerous reptiles and other mammals also live in the Thar Desert, including a subspecies of the red fox and the caracal. 141 species of desert migratory and resident birds, including harriers, falcons, buzzards, kestrels, vultures, short-toed eagles, and others, may be found in the area.The Thar region is home to resident breeders of the Indian peafowl. In villages like Deblina, one can spot it perched on a khejri or pipal tree.

Climate

The climate in Thar is subtropical and desert. Seasonal variations in average temperature can produce extremes that vary from below freezing in the winter to over 50 degrees Celsius in the summer. 100 to 500 mm of rain fall every year on average falls during the brief southwest monsoon from July to September. Both a semidesert (in the east) with fewer sand dunes and a little bit more precipitation, and a very dry section (the Marusthali region in the west) exist in the desert.

Rann of Kutch

The Great Rann of Kutch, considered to be India's biggest salt plain, is a region in Gujarat's Kutch district. Popular slang for it is Rann of Kutch, which is a little misleading. In actuality, the Rann of Kutch is made up of two deserts. The Great Rann of Kutch is the largest, covering 7500 square km. The Little Rann of Kutch is a nearby, marginally smaller salt desert. The Great Rann gets submerged by torrential rains during the monsoon. After the rainy season, the area starts to dry and turns into a saline marsh as the floodwaters recede.

Fauna

In the Rann of Kutch, there are roughly 50 different types of animals. Numerous huge herbivores, such as the Indian wild ass, chinkara, and blackbuck, as well as powerful predators like the wolf, striped hyena, and desert wildcat are among them. Previously found throughout a larger area, the Indian wild ass is currently only found in the Rann of Kutch. Blackbuck and nilgai are endangered species. The Rann of Kutch is home to more than 200 bird species, including the endangered lesser florican and houbara bustard. Numerous water species, such as the lesser flamingo and demoiselle crane, have homes in the seasonal marshes.

Climate

The ecoregion of Rann of Kutch has a subtropical climate. The scorching summer months see average temperatures of 44 °C and highs of 50 °C. The temperature can fall to or below freezing throughout the winter. Rainfall is very cyclical. The Rann of Kutch experiences little rainfall outside of the monsoon season, which lasts from June to September. Local rainfall and river runoff flood a large portion of the Rann to a depth of 0.5 meters during the monsoon season. By the start of the following monsoon season, the Rann is once again dry because of the extended dry season's evaporation of the water.

List Of Major Hot Deserts of India

The following table shows list of major hot deserts of India, their locations and approximate length −

Desert	Location	Approximate Area (sq. km)	Type
Thar Desert	Northwestern India (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab)	200,000 sq. km	Hot
Rann of Kutch	Northwestern India (Gujarat)	30,000 sq. km	Hot

Conclusion

The fascinating and varied deserts of India provide distinctive scenery and experiences. The undulating sand dunes and rocky topography of the Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, can be seen in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab. The largest salt plain in India, the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, changes into a saline marsh during the monsoon season. The scorching deserts of India, especially the Thar Desert and the Rann of Kutch, are incredible natural wonders with distinctive topographies and harsh climates.

The huge Thar Desert acts as a natural border between India and Pakistan, while the Rann of Kutch is the largest salt plain in India. Due to their arid nature, these deserts have little to no vegetation and blistering summer temperatures. These deserts provide stunning landscapes and serve as a source of artistic inspiration despite their difficult conditions. These Indian deserts are appealing sites for adventure and exploration-seeking travellers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are India's major hot deserts?

India's major hot deserts are the Thar Desert and the Rann of Kutch.

What is the Thar desert's other name?

The northwest of the Indian subcontinent is home to the vast and arid Thar Desert, often known as the Great Indian Desert.

Where exactly is the Great Indian Desert?

The Thar Desert is located in both Pakistan and India, with India making up about 85% of its area.

Which Indian city is referred to as a desert city?

Jaisalmer is known as the Desert City. It's in the state of Rajasthan.

Where is the Thar Desert located?

The Thar Desert is located in north-western India, covering areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab.

What is the approximate area of the Thar Desert?

The Thar Desert spans approximately 200,000 square kilometers.

What is the unique feature of the Rann of Kutch?

The Rann of Kutch is India's largest salt plain, covering an area of around 30,000 square kilometers.

What type of climate do these deserts have?

The hot deserts of India have a subtropical and desert climate, with extreme temperatures ranging from freezing in winters to over 50°C in summers.

How much rainfall do these deserts receive?

The Thar Desert receives an average of 100 to 500 mm of rainfall during the brief southwest monsoon season from July to September.

What happens to the Rann of Kutch during the monsoon season?

The Rann of Kutch gets submerged by torrential rains during the monsoon and turns into a saline marsh as the floodwaters recede.

Which desert has shifting sand dunes in the west and rocky terrain in the east?

The Thar Desert has shifting sand dunes in the west and rocky terrain in the east, earning it the nickname "Marusthali" or "dead land."