Facts About Thal Desert

The Thal desert is located in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. As it’s a desert, there’s sparsely any vegetation present. Only a small area of the desert is cultivated with crops.

Thal Desert has an approximate area of 20000km².

It’s also the third largest desert in Pakistan.

The desert extends over a length of 305km and has a width varying from 32km to as much as 112km.

It lies south of the Pothohar Plateau between the Jhelum and Sindh rivers.

It covers the Bhakkar,Khushab,Layyah,Mianwali,Muzafargarh and Jhang districts.

Vegetation in the desert is sparse. The only natural vegetation in the desert are a few species of drought resistance grass, shrubs and trees.

The desert is supplied with water from the Thal Canal. Villagers use this water for irrigating their crops and feeding their cattle.

Locals speak Urdu, Saraiki and Thalochi, a modified dialect of the Punjabi Language.

Approximately 50-60% of the desert is covered in sand dunes.

June is the hottest month in the desert, during which the average temperature is about 34°C.

Temperatures in the desert can go as high as 44°C and reach as low as 0°C .

Average rainfall in the desert is about 277mm per year.

The desert is also a famous and attractive spot for rally racing.

Although, the area is quite backward and most of the locals are poor who depend on cattle rearing as the main source of income, the desert’s cultivated land area could be increased by using more sophisticated farming techniques. This could greatly improve the living standards of the local population.