Thar Desert Sees 38% Annual Increase in Greening Due to Monsoon and Agriculture
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Why in News? | Thar Desert records 38% annual increase in greening over the last two decades due to increased monsoon rainfall and agricultural expansion. |
| Location | Covers 200,000 sq km in northwestern India (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana) and southeastern Pakistan (Sindh, Punjab provinces). |
| Geography & Climate | Bordered by Indus River plains (west), Punjab Plains (north/northeast), Aravalli Range (southeast), and Rann of Kutch (south). Subtropical desert climate with high pressure and subsidence. |
| Soil Structure | Coarse textured, well drained, calcareous soils include desert, red desert, sierozem, red and yellow, saline, lithosols, and regosols. |
| Biodiversity | Home to Blue Bull (Nilgai), Blackbuck, Great Indian Bustard (GIB), and Indian Gazella (Chinkara). Includes Desert National Park, one of India's largest national parks (Rajasthan). |
| Mineral Resources | Contains world's largest lignite coal deposits and is rich in gypsum and salt (e.g., saline lakes like Sambhar and Kuchaman). |