May 15, 200608:05 AMThe Life

Deserts of the world: Thar

The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is located in western India and southeastern Pakistan. In Pakistan's Punjab province it is known as the Cholistan Desert. It covers approximately 175,000 square miles, depending on which areas are included.

4,000 to 5,000 years ago, this area supported what is considered to be one of the world's oldest civilizations, the Mohenjo Daro and Harappa.

All rainfall is associated with the short July-September southwest monsoon that brings less than 10 inches of precipitation.

Within the desert itself, there are eleven protected areas that cover nearly 17,000 square miles, the largest (at 4,068 square miles) is the Rann of Kutch.

[Image courtesy of NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team - click thumbnail photo for larger version.]

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