Back صحراء ثال Arabic صحرا ثال ARZ Txal Azerbaijani Тхал Byelorussian Тхал Bulgarian থল মরুভূমি Bengali/Bangla Thal Catalan Thal Desert CEB بیابان تهل Persian Désert du Thal French
| Thal Desert | |
|---|---|
 Road passing through the Thal Desert at Noorpur | |
 Thal Desert (orange) | |
| Floor elevation | 200–90 m (660–300 ft) |
| Length | 310 km (190 mi) |
| Width | 119 km (74 mi) |
| Area | 10,000 km2 (3,900 sq mi) |
| Geography | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| State/Province | Punjab |
| District | Bhakkar, Jhang, Khushab, Kot Addu, Layyah, Mianwali, Muzaffargarh |
| Coordinates | 31°10′N 71°30′E / 31.167°N 71.500°E |
| River | Indus River Chenab River |
The Thal desert (Punjabi: تَھل صحرہ, romanized: Thal Sahrā'h; Urdu: صحراےَ تھل, romanized: Sehrā-é-Thal) is situated at 31°10’ N and 71°30’ E in the province of Punjab, Pakistan.[1] Located near the Pothohar Plateau, the area falls under the Indomalayan biogeographic realm and stretches for a length of approximately 190 miles (310 km) with a maximum breadth of 70 miles (119 km).[2][3] It is bound by the piedmont of the northern Salt Range, the Indus River floodplains in the west and the Jhelum and Chenab rivers' floodplains in the east.[1] It is a subtropical sandy desert that resembles the deserts of Cholistan and Thar geographically.[4]
The region is characterized by sand dunes, prone to massive shifting and rolling, as well as scant rainfall, high diurnal variation of temperature and high wind velocity.[5] Aridity is a common feature and perennial grasses make up much of the vegetation.[6]
Agriculture and livestock rearing form the main sources of livelihood for the population, who live in small scattered settlements throughout the desert.[7]
- ^ a b Shaheen, H.; Qureshi, R.; Akram, A.; Gulfraz, M.; Potter, D. (2014). "A preliminary floristic checklist of Thal desert Punjab, Pakistan" (PDF). Pakistan Journal of Botany. 46 (1): 13–18.
- ^ "Indomalaya | Regions | World Thysanoptera". anic.ento.csiro.au. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ Mahboob, S.; Zaib-U-Nisa; Ahma, Z.; Sultana, S. (2013). "Study on avian diversity of Thal desert (district Jhang), Punjab, Pakistan". Life Science Journal. 10 (11): 1–8.
- ^ Anonymous (2008). "Annual rainfall, relative humidity and temperature of Thal Deseart Punjab, Pakistan. 2006-2008" (Document). Pakistan Metrological Department.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:3was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:13was invoked but never defined (see the help page).