Thal Desert

Thal Desert
Road passing through the Thal Desert at Noorpur
Thal Desert (orange)
Floor elevation200–90 m (660–300 ft)
Length310 km (190 mi)
Width119 km (74 mi)
Area23,000[1] km2 (8,900 sq mi)
Geography
CountryPakistan
State/ProvincePunjab
DistrictBhakkar, Jhang, Khushab, Kot Addu, Layyah, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh
Coordinates31°10′N 71°30′E / 31.167°N 71.500°E / 31.167; 71.500 
RiverIndus River

Jhelum River

Chenab River

The Thal desert (Punjabi: تَھل صحرہ, romanized: Thal Sahrā'h; Urdu: صحراےَ تھل, romanized: Sehrā-é-Thal) is situated at 31°10’ N and 71°30’ E in the province of Punjab, Pakistan.[2] Located near the Pothohar Plateau, the area falls under the Indomalayan biogeographic realm and stretches for a length of approximately 190 miles (310 km) with a maximum breadth of 70 miles (119 km).[3][4] It is bound by the piedmont of the northern Salt Range, the Indus River floodplains in the west and the Jhelum and Chenab rivers' floodplains in the east.[2] It is a subtropical sandy desert that resembles the deserts of Cholistan and Thar geographically.[5]

The region is characterized by sand dunes, prone to massive shifting and rolling, as well as scant rainfall, high diurnal variation of temperature and high wind velocity.[6] Aridity is a common feature and perennial grasses make up much of the vegetation.[7] Agriculture and livestock rearing form the main sources of livelihood for the population, who live in small scattered settlements throughout the desert.[8]

Thal Desert landscape
  1. ^ Ahmad, Rafiq (2017). "Indo-Pakistani Deserts". In A. Mares, Michael (ed.). Encyclopedia of Deserts. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 291–293. ISBN 978-0-8061-7229-3.
  2. ^ a b Shaheen, H.; Qureshi, R.; Akram, A.; Gulfraz, M.; Potter, D. (2014). "A preliminary floristic checklist of Thal desert Punjab, Pakistan" (PDF). Pakistan Journal of Botany. 46 (1): 13–18.
  3. ^ "Indomalaya | Regions | World Thysanoptera". anic.ento.csiro.au. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  4. ^ Mahboob, S.; Zaib-U-Nisa; Ahma, Z.; Sultana, S. (2013). "Study on avian diversity of Thal desert (district Jhang), Punjab, Pakistan". Life Science Journal. 10 (11): 1–8.
  5. ^ Anonymous (2008). "Annual rainfall, relative humidity and temperature of Thal Deseart Punjab, Pakistan. 2006-2008" (Document). Pakistan Metrological Department.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).