Q. Which of the following statements with regard to the ecological distribution of deserts in India is/are correct?
1.The Thar Desert is confined within the boundaries of India, covering portions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana.
2.The Cold Desert of Ladakh sits within the Trans-Himalayan rain-shadow zone and experiences extreme temperature fluctuations with scarce precipitation.
3.The Rann of Kutch operates as a seasonal marshy salt pan desert that exhibits high-density white halite crust landscapes during dry months.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer: A
Notes:
Detailed Explanation:
- Statement 1 is incorrect: The Thar Desert is not confined entirely within India; roughly 15% of its total geographical expanse stretches across the international border into Pakistan (where it is called the Cholistan Desert).
- Statement 2 is correct: Ladakh is classified as a high-altitude cold desert. The Great Himalayas block the entry of the southwest monsoon, leaving the region in a perpetual rain shadow with dry, frigid conditions.
- Statement 3 is correct: The Rann of Kutch is unique because it is submerged under water during the monsoon season and dries out during the winter to expose vast, hyper-saline white salt fields.
