Summary
Chapter 6 of NCERT Class 7 Our Environment covers two types of deserts — the hot Sahara in North Africa and the cold desert of Ladakh in the Himalayas — comparing their climates, flora, fauna, and the lives of people who inhabit them.
This chapter introduces desert environments by contrasting two very different deserts. The Sahara, the world's largest hot desert at 8.54 million sq km, spans eleven countries in North Africa. Days reach up to 50°C and nights drop near zero, with vegetation limited to cacti, date palms and acacia. Nomadic Bedouins and Tuaregs herd livestock, while settled communities near oases and the Nile Valley grow crops like rice, wheat and Egyptian cotton, and benefit from oil discoveries. Ladakh, India's cold desert in the Great Himalayas, receives as little as 10 cm of rain yearly and winter temperatures fall below −40°C. Its people — Muslims and Buddhists — cultivate barley and vegetables in summer and visit famous monasteries like Hemis and Thiksey. Tourism and modernisation are gradually changing both regions.
Key points & formulas
- 01Sahara is the world's largest desert at 8.54 million sq km, spanning eleven North African countries including Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya and Morocco.
- 02Sahara days can reach 50°C while nights drop near 0°C; Al Azizia in Libya recorded 57.7°C in 1922, the highest temperature noted in the text.
- 03Bedouins and Tuaregs are nomadic tribes of the Sahara who rear camels, goats, sheep and horses, using hides for leather goods and hair for mats and blankets.
- 04Oil found in Algeria, Libya and Egypt is transforming the Sahara; other minerals in the region include iron, phosphorus, manganese and uranium.
- 05Ladakh is a cold desert enclosed by the Karakoram Range in the north and the Zanskar mountains in the south, with the Indus as its most important river.
- 06Ladakh receives as little as 10 cm of rainfall per year and lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas; winter temperatures can remain below −40°C.
- 07Famous Buddhist monasteries (gompas) in Ladakh include Hemis, Thiksey, Shey and Lamayuru, and tourism to these is a major activity.
- 08The Chiru (Tibetan antelope) is an endangered species in Ladakh, hunted for its shahtoosh wool, which is light and extremely warm.
Frequently asked questions
01What are the two types of deserts described in NCERT Class 7 Our Environment Chapter 6?
The chapter describes hot deserts and cold deserts. The Sahara in North Africa is an example of a hot desert, and Ladakh in the Great Himalayas is an example of a cold desert.
02How large is the Sahara desert and which countries does it touch?
The Sahara covers an area of around 8.54 million sq km — more than twice the size of India. It touches eleven countries: Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia and Western Sahara.
03What is the climate of the Sahara desert?
The Sahara is scorching hot and parched dry. Day temperatures can soar to 50°C, while nights can drop to near zero degrees. Rainfall is scarce and the sky is mostly cloudless. Al Azizia in Libya recorded 57.7°C in 1922.
04Who are the Bedouins and Tuaregs?
Bedouins and Tuaregs are nomadic tribes of the Sahara desert. They rear livestock such as goats, sheep, camels and horses. These animals provide milk, hides (used for belts, slippers and water bottles) and hair (used for mats, carpets, clothes and blankets).
05What crops and minerals are found in the Sahara region?
Near oases and the Nile Valley, people grow date palms, rice, wheat, barley and beans. Egypt is famous for its cotton. Minerals found in the Sahara region include oil (in Algeria, Libya and Egypt), iron, phosphorus, manganese and uranium.
06How is an oasis formed?
An oasis forms in a depression created when wind blows away sand. When underground water reaches the surface in these depressions, an oasis is formed. Tafilalet Oasis in Morocco is a large example, with an area of about 13,000 sq km.
07Where is Ladakh located and what mountain ranges surround it?
Ladakh is a cold desert lying in the Great Himalayas, on the eastern side of Jammu and Kashmir. The Karakoram Range encloses it in the north and the Zanskar mountains in the south. The Indus is its most important river, and the Gangri glacier is one of several glaciers found there.
08What is the annual rainfall in Ladakh and why is it so low?
Ladakh receives as little as 10 cm of rainfall every year. This is because it lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, which block moisture-bearing winds.
09What crops do people of Ladakh grow in summer, and what are the famous monasteries?
In summer, people of Ladakh cultivate barley, potatoes, peas, beans and turnip. Famous monasteries (gompas) in Ladakh include Hemis, Thiksey, Shey and Lamayuru.
10What does the word 'Ladakh' mean and what is Ladakh also known as?
'Ladakh' is made up of two words — 'La' meaning 'mountain pass' and 'Dak' meaning 'country'. Ladakh is also known as Khapa-chan, which means 'snow land'. Drass, one of the coldest inhabited places on earth, is located in Ladakh.
11Can I download the NCERT Class 7 Our Environment Chapter 6 PDF for free without signing up?
Yes — the full PDF is available free on cbseprepmaster.com with no account or sign-up required.
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