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flora aNd fauNa
As water is not available in abundance there, it does
not support much vegetation except cactus, date

palms, and acacia. In the Sahara desert, camel is the
common animal which is also known as ‘the Ship of
the Desert’. Jackal, Hyenas and wild foxes are the
other common species of animals found here. Acacia Jackal

The cave paintings in Sahara desert show that Sahara once was a lush green plain which also had
rivers with crocodiles. Animals like elephants, lions, giraffes, ostriches, sheep, cattle and goats were
usually found here. But the change in the climate and intense human hunting over the past 100
years has made it a barren hot and dry land.

pEoplE

Despite the harsh climate, life in the Sahara is quite active. Animal rearing, cultivation of
crops, trading and mining are the main occupations of the people. The Bedouins and Tuaregs
are the main nomadic tribes who are generally engaged in animal rearing. The animals
provide milk, meat and hides. They make products like belts, slippers, water bottles from
leather and mats, carpets, clothes and blankets from hair. They live in temporary homes
i.e. tents and exchange their animal products with agricultural products from oasis areas.
Travelling is mostly done on camel back.
Permanent settlements on the Nile Valley is Egypt and in the oasis areas. The availability
of water facilitates cultivation of crops like rice, wheat, barley and beans. Apart from
dates, several fruits like figs, olives, apricots and some vegetables are also grown. Cotton

is cultivated in the fertile Nile Valley.
Life for the natives is tough. Harsh physical conditions and scarcity of water add to the
woes of the people. But things are changing for the better. The discovery and exploration

of oil has helped in developing the economy of several countries of Sahara. Most of the
essential items are now imported from other countries
helping people to change to a more modern life style.

Egyptian cotton is the best quality of cotton grown worldwide.
Its fibre is longest and strongest and helps Egypt earn a lot of
foreign exchange.

Cold dEsErt – ladakh

The word ‘Ladakh’ is made up of two words–‘La’

meaning mountain pass and ‘Dak’ meaning country.
Ladakh is also known as Khapa–Chan which means Ladakh is made up
of only two districts :
snow land. Ladakh lies in the Great Himalayas, on Leh and Kargil.
the eastern side of Jammu and Kashmir. It is bounded Indus River

Social Studies
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42 Social Studies-7-7