Page 113 - Journeys Through Society-7

herders and take care of flocks of goats, sheep, and Previously Ladakh used to be part of Jammu and
camels. Kashmir. In 2019, it became a separate Union Territory
Nomadic herders like the Bedouins and Tuaregs live in of India. Enclosed by the Karakoram Ranges in the
tents so they can move easily as soon as all the grass is north and Zanskar Mountains in the south, Ladakh is
consumed by the cattle in one region. These animals located in the lap of the Great Himalayas. Located at
provide meat, milk and hide to the people. Hide is altitudes of 3,000 metres to 8,000 metres, this Union
used for making water bottles, belts and slippers, territory of India is characterised by lofty mountains
while carpets, clothes and blankets are made from and arid land. Many glaciers can be found here,
animal hair. including the Gangotri glacier, which is the source of
the mighty river Ganga. The river Indus flows through
People living a settled life in the Nile Valley and oasis
the mountainous land.
cultivate food crops like wheat, rice, barley, and beans.
Cotton is an important cash crop grown here. Dates Climate
are most widely grown among fruits, apart from
Due to its great altitude, Ladakh has thin air, which
olives, figs and apricots.
allows the intense heat of the Sun to be felt. The cold,
The discovery of oil has helped in the economic dry climate of Ladakh is harsh during the winter
development of the people and life in the Sahara is season. The average daily temperature in January
changing to become more modern. ranges between -30° at 6 a.m., -17° at noon and -24° at
6 p.m. The average daily temperature in June ranges
Wow Fact from -8° at 6 a.m., to 1° at noon and 2° at 6 p.m. The

The Sahara Desert’s singing sand dunes are climate is wet in June with 100 mm of rainfall. Cold
phenomenon that have left researchers frost bites are common during the inhospitable
stumped. The orchestral sounds the desert
winters.
emit can range from sonic booms, drumming
and even whistling. Flora and Fauna
Lying in the leeward side or rain shadow area of the
Great Himalayas, Ladakh receives very little rainfall.
Life in a Cold Desert
The annual average rainfall is as low as 10 cm. This
Ladakh makes the land arid with very little natural vegetation.
Unlike the Sahara, Ladakh, located in the northern The high altitude is another reason for sparse
extremity of India, is a cold desert. This means there vegetation. Patches of grass and shrubs can be found
are no sand dunes here. Ladakh instead is a land on the mountain slopes while poplars and willows
characterised by lofty ranges, rock-walls, mountain grow in the more fertile river valleys. In the summer
ridges, glaciers and snowfields. season, fruits like apples, apricots and walnuts grow.

Landscape of Ladakh Vegetation of Ladakh region
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