Great Indian Desert (Thar)
Thar Desert or Great Indian Desert extends over an area of approximately 200,000 squre km . The Desert lies in the North Western part of India and Eastern Pakistan between Indus and Sutlez river valleys on the west and Aravali range on the east . It is extensively a barren region of of diversifying sand dunes , rocks , and mediocre vegetation with an annual average rainfall of less than 200 cm .
it is world’s 7th largest desert and also Asia’s 3rd largest desert.
It lies mostly in the Indian state of Rajasthan, and extends into the southern portion of Haryana and Punjab states and into northern Gujarat state.
In Pakistan, the desert covers eastern Sindh province and the southeastern portion of Pakistan’s Punjab province.
The Cholistan Desert adjoins the Thar desert spreading into Pakistani Punjab province.
It has been established that the Thar Desert was once under sea . The lime stones rocks of Jaisalmer bear marks of ammonites and other marine fossils .
The 21 hectare Akaal Wood Fossil Park that lies 15 Km from Jaisalmer , takes you back to zurasic period when the entire region lay under the sea .
Fossilized tree trunks are now clearly exposed to view .