Which is the largest hot desert in the world?
a) Thar Desert
b) Sahara Desert
c) Kalahari Desert
d) Gobi Desert
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Answer: c) Ladakh
Explanation
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Ladakh Cold Desert: Situated in the Trans-Himalayan region at an elevation ranging from 3,000 to over 6,000 meters above sea level, Ladakh is widely known as the cold desert of India.
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Rain Shadow Effect: It lies in the rain shadow of the Great Himalayas, which blocks the moisture-laden Southwest Monsoon winds. As a result, the region receives extremely low annual rainfall (less than 10 cm per year).
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Climate & Features: Characterized by extreme cold winters, freezing winds, low humidity, arid gravelly terrain, high solar radiation, and sparse vegetation.
Overview of Other Options
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a) Jaisalmer: Located in Rajasthan; part of the hot Thar Desert.
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b) Spiti (Spiti Valley): A high-altitude cold desert valley located in Himachal Pradesh, adjacent to Ladakh, but Ladakh is the primary regional macro-entity designated as India’s main cold desert plateau.
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d) Rann of Kutch: A vast seasonal salt marsh located in Gujarat, known as a white salt desert.
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