Geography of Rajasthan

Rajasthan is a state in India situated in the country’s northwest. The name Rajasthan means “Land of Kings.” Rajasthan is home to the largest desert in Asia, called the Thar Desert. The desert is made up of silt and clay unsuitable for agriculture due to insufficient rain or water. Other major cities in Rajasthan include Jaipur and Jodhpur. The dry region of Rajasthan is called the Thar Desert. It was formed over 10 million years ago after the ice age of the last glacial period and currently covers about 12,000 square km (4,700 sq mi).

Location and Area

Rajasthan borders Gujarat to the west, Haryana and Punjab to the north and Uttar Pradesh to the east. 

The total area of Rajasthan is about 12.64 million square kilometres (4.84 million square miles). Rajasthan has a population of 3.2 million (2003 estimate) people as per provisional data in the 2001 census. Rajasthan’s total population as per the 2011 census was 4,60,704,000, with 17,462 people being nomadic or semi-nomadic.

The northern part of Rajasthan is arid or semi-arid. There are some small hill ranges like Aravalli Range and Vindhyachal Mountain Ranges. Some parts of the state are subject to extreme temperatures for a few months of the year. Rajasthan has wildlife sanctuaries for the benefit of wildlife.

Weather and Climate

The average annual rainfall in northern Rajasthan is 610 mm, while in southern states of India, it is 750 mm. The average annual maximum temperature is 29°C, and the minimum temperature is 12°C. The state experiences hot summers and cold winters. The average annual rainfall in Rajasthan is 610 mm, while in the south Indian states, it ranges from 750 mm to 780 mm. To make it clear, the state of Rajasthan lies in the rain shadow areas of the region.

Topography

Rajasthan has several different types of climatic zones depending on the elevation. The highest point is Mount Abu, with 2,666 m (8,790 ft). The average annual rainfall in Rajasthan is 610 mm, while in south India ranges from 750 mm to 780 mm. To make it clear, the state lies in the rain shadow areas of the region.

Rajasthan lies between 24°7′ and 30°30′ north latitude and 74°38′ and 76°46′ east longitude. The state has a total area of 112,652 sq. km (43,965.8 sq mi).

Soil and Vegetation

Rajasthan is a land of dunes and flat river-drained plains. The region’s soil is mostly sandy with a rich mix of minerals and salts. There are large bodies of saline and brackish water in the state.

The vegetation in the region is low and primarily comprises thorny shrubs and trees of dry deciduous forest. The dry deciduous forests are found in eastern Rajasthan, while the forest of thorny shrubs is common all over the state. The region’s evergreen forests are limited to the Aravalli mountain ranges in and around cities like Mount Abu.

According to the Rajasthan state government, there are about 8,013 square kilometres of wetland and wetlands in Rajasthan. Of this, 5,231 square kilometres are seasonal wetlands, while 2375 square kilometres are semi-permanent ponds. The wetlands of Rajasthan cover an area of around 2% of the state’s total geographical area and have a salinity level of around 0.5%.

Dams and Irrigation System

In Rajasthan, there are several major and minor irrigation projects. The important dams in Rajasthan include Banas, Mangla and Jawai dams, among others. There are 26 major irrigation projects in Rajasthan, of which the Heranj canal project is the largest and was funded by the World Bank. 

There are several dams in Rajasthan, which were constructed in different eras to address the problem of water scarcity. For example, Banahan Dam is the first dam built in Rajasthan, constructed during the British period. The Maha Sarovar Dam is another dam in Rajasthan constructed during British rule. Banasan dam is a barrage dam situated in the Barmer district on the Banas River. It was constructed in 1873 by the British during their rule over the region. It is one of the oldest dams in India, which serves as a source for irrigation and flood control in the area. Maha Sarovar dam is built over the Sipri river in the Bikaner district near Sardargarh village. The dam also provides drinking water to many villages around it. Its reservoir also serves as a venue for water sports and tourism.

Desert

The desert has a hot climate with extreme temperatures during summer and winter times. The average temperature in summer is 32 °C, and in winter, the temperature usually goes down by 4 °C. The extreme heat of the desert is caused due to lack of vegetation and very low rainfall. The rainwater flows towards rivers which flow out to sea. Most of the Thar Desert is covered with dunes, known as “Shivalik Hills”. It also includes some khejri grassland and dry region of salt plains (known as “Gumdan”). The dunes of the Thar Desert also include some hills and rocky outcrops. The vast sandy desert area is dotted with small towns and villages. The biggest village is Jaisalmer which houses the fort of Jaisalmer. Dry region desert areas are inhabited by a few indigenous tribes called Tharis, Marwadi, Meo, and Bheel. These tribes live in small villages and practise a nomadic lifestyle too.

Conclusion

The geography of Rajasthan can be best expressed and understood by the saying “desert meets the desert”. The state of Rajasthan could be divided into two halves — one part is covered with dunes and low rolling hills, known as the Great Indian Desert. The other half includes several parallel ranges of sandstone formation known as Aravalis, which rise from west to east from the Great Indian Desert. Between these two dry regions is a narrow strip of fertile land. The dry region of the desert is under threat from sand extraction, causing environmental degradation and water scarcity in the area.