Deserts in Pakistan

Pakistan is a subtropical country spread over an area of 79.6 million hectares (mha) lying between 24° and 37° N and 61° and 75° E. Most of the area is semiarid to arid, extending over 70 mha (87.94% of its land mass), receiving 250 mm annual rainfall.

The deserts of Pakistan cover 11 mha (13.82%) of the land situated in the central and southeastern regions.

These areas are broadly separated and are located between 100 and 1000 m above sea level.

These deserts are monsoon in type, referring to a wind system marked with seasonal fluctuation in response to temperature variations between continents and oceans.

The Thar Desert covers large areas of Pakistan (15%) and India (85%). It is the 16th largest desert on the planet and the third largest in Asia. It is the part of the Great Indian Desert.

Katpana Desert is a high-altitude desert (elevation of 2,226 meters (7,303 feet) above sea level) located near Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan region and contains expanses of large sand dunes that are sometimes covered in snow during winter.

NameDistrictProvinceArea (Sq Km)
Kharan DesertKharanBalochistan20,000
Cholistan (Rohi) DesertBahawalpurPunjab16,000
Thal DesertBhakkarPunjab34,450
Thar DeserTharparkarSindh200,000
Katpana (Biama Nakpo) DesertSkarduGilgit Baltistan

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