NCERT Class 7 Geography Chapter 10 - Life in Deserts

Chapter 10 - Life in Deserts

Question and Answers
Question 1: What are the climatic conditions of Ladakh desert?
Answer: The climate of the Ladakh desert is extremely cold and dry due to its high altitude which varies from about 3,000 m in Kargil to more than 8,000 m in Karakoram. The air at this altitude is so thin that the heat of the sun can be felt intensely. The day temperatures in summer are just above zero degrees and the night temperatures are below -30 degrees celsius. Winters are extremely cold with temperatures below -40 degree celsius most of the time. There is very little rainfall in this region. It is as low as 10 cm every year. The area experiences freezing winds and burning hot sunlight. There is always a chance of sunstroke and frostbite at the same time.
 
Question 2: What mainly attracts tourists to Ladakh?
Answer: Ladakh is a famous tourist place. The tourists within the country and abroad enjoy visiting Buddhist monasteries that dot the Ladakhi landscape with their traditional gompas.
The meadows and glaciers in Ladakh also attract these tourists. The ceremonies and festivities in which local people keep themselves engaged during winter months are great attractions to the tourists.
 
Question 3: Describe the people of the Sahara desert. Also write about their activities.
Answer: The Sahara desert experiences a harsh climate. Despite that various groups of people such as the Bedouins and Tuaregs live here. These are nomadic tribes who pursue different activities. They rear animals such as goats, sheep, camels and horses. They get milk and hides from these animals. They prepare leather from hides. They use the hair of these animals in making mats, carpets, clothes and blankets. The people of the Sahara desert wear heavy robes to protect themselves from the dust storms and hot winds.
The oasis in the Sahara desert and the Nile valley in Egypt support the settled population. Since water is available, people grow date palms. They also grow rice, wheat, barley and beans.
The Sahara is undergoing change with fast speed. Tuaregs, the nomadic tribe, are now acting as guides to foreign tourists. More and more nomadic herdsmen are migrating to cities in search of jobs in oil and gas operations.
 
Question 4: Mention the summer and winter activities of the people of the Ladakh desert?
Answer: In the summer season the people of the Ladakh desert are busy in cultivation work. They grow crops such as barley, potatoes, peas, beans and turnip. The climate during winters is very harsh and people keep themselves engaged in festivities and ceremonies. The women manage the house and fields with great efficiency. They also manage small businesses and shops.
 
Question 5: Where is Ladakh desert located?
Answer: Ladakh is located in the Great Himalayas on the eastern side of Jammu and Kashmir.
 
Question 6: Give reasons:
a) There is scanty vegetation in the deserts.
Answer: The eliminate of the deserts is either very hot and dry or very cold and dry. Both the conditions are not favourable for the growth of vegetation. Besides this, there is low amount of rainfall in the deserts. Due to lack of sufficient water, deserts usually have scanty vegetation.

b) People of Sahara desert wear heavy robes.
Answer: People of the Sahara deserts wear heavy robes in order to protect themselves from the dust storms and hot winds.