Cold Desert Katpana Of Pakistan.pptx

Cold Desert Katpana Of Pakistan

1. Topic: The Cold Desert Of Pakistan Slides made by Dr. Saba Malik

2. List of Context Cold Desert (Katapna) of Pakistan Why it’s called Highest Desert Of World? Topography Climate Vegetation in Katpana Desert Katapna Lake Wildlife in Desert Economic Activity Activity due to Wilderness

3. The Cold Desert (Katpana) of Pakistan The Cold Desert of Pakistan include Katpana Desert and also known as Biama Nakpo (in Balti language). The high sand dunes of Katpana has given it the name of the cold desert. It is one of the few deserts of the world where sand dunes meet snow-capped mountains during the winter.

4. Highest Desert Of The World The desert technically stretches from the Khaplu Valley to Zanskar in Ladakh but the largest area is found in Shigar Valley and Skardu. Skardu Airport is located near the cold desert. Total area is 9.4 square kilometers.

5. Altitude It is Situated at an altitude/elevation of 2,226 metres (7,303 feet) above sea level and distance from Skardu is 33km. This Cold Desert is one of the highest altitude desert in the world.

6. Topography West Pakistan to North the topography is very pleasing with the colors of the lush plantation, giant mountains, rocky plains, flowing, curvy streams, waterfalls, cloudy skies, and picturesque landscapes. The granules of sand in Katpana Desert are white, not yellow, which has marked this desert as a wonder on earth.

7. Surrounded by blackish grey Karakoram and Himalayan-mountain range, the desert has a unique landscape which contains large white sand dunes keep changing and shifting due to the mighty winds which brings out a new scenery every time. They are also covered in snow during winter and making the views incredibly eye appealing.

8. Climate Temperature in Summers Temperatures in cold desert vary between 8°C usually at night and maximum 24°C to 27°C at day time in the summer season Temperature in Winters In Winters, It can drop as low as -17°C to -25°C with extreme cold winds in the December to January. It receive 2 to 3 feet snow annually, the snow covered duns feel exactly like snowy hills in winter.

9. Vegetation in Katpana desert: The first thing that comes to one’s mind when thinking of a desert is the scarcity of vegetables and plants but Katpana desert stuns everyone with its lush plantation and green vegetation. Grasses are the most common vegetation in cold deserts. They tend to grow in clumps known as bunchgrass.

10. Shrubs and brush plants also cover the terrain of cold deserts include algae, grasses, and plants with spiny thin leaves. Usually these plants grow only in the summers.

11. Katpana Lake At roughly 8,000 feet, Katpana Lake is surrounded by snow-capped 15,000 foot mountains and katpana desert with some foliage, making it even more gorgeous, appealing, and fascinating.

12. Wildlife in Katpana Desert Tibetan Wolf There are two subspecies of the Grey Wolf in Pakistan. But in the northern mountanious regions, the Tibetan Wolf ( Canis lupus campestris ) is found. The Tibetan Wolf inhabits the barren rocky mountanious valleys of Baltistan, Gilgit and other regions of Pakistan.

13. Snow leopards It ’ s live in some of the harshest conditions on Earth. They scale the great, steep slopes of mountains in Central Asia with ease, blending into the landscape. But these majestic and elusive cats face many threats including habitat loss and degradation from climate change and human encroachment, retaliatory killings resulting from human-wildlife conflict, reduced prey, and poaching.
WWF works to reduce human-wildlife conflict, increase anti-poaching efforts, and protect the fragile snow leopard habitat.

14. Tibetan Red Fox Tibetan foxes are also known as Tibetan sand foxes or simply sand foxes. Scientific name is Vulpes ferrilata. They are present in Tibetan plateau and other mountainous plains across Asia. The Red Fox is killed in enormous numbers each year for its valuable pelt and because it is considered destructive to poultry, but it has survived this persecution and still survives in good numbers where ever it is found.

15. Onager Onager is native to the desert a large Tibetan relative, was previously considered to be a subspecies of the onager as E. hemionus kiang , but recent molecular studies indicate that it is a distinct species. It is also known as the Asiatic wild ass, Asian wild ass, or wild Asian ass. It range has contracted greatly under the pressures of poaching and habitat loss.

16. Golden Jackal or Asiatic Jackal It’s scientific name is Canis aureus . This is a very common animal in Pakistan and is usually seen around human settlements. It is widespread and is found throughout much of the country, except the northern most mountanious regions.

17. Bharal The bharal ( Pseudois nayaur ), also called the blue sheep. They live in open grassy slopes in high mountains and are usually found near cliffs but try to avoid forested areas. These animals are tolerant of extreme weather conditions and can be found from desert mountains in searing heat to windy and cold slopes.

18. Economic Activity A major economic activity for the inhabitants of this desert is tourism. People love sitting up their camps in the desert when the weather is suitable enough.

19. Many tourist visit there to experience staying beneath the starry sky and gazing stars as well as cold desert air. It also delight the visitors with other scenic sights.

20. Many people and childrens like to picked Cherry or enjoy it.

21. Activity Due To Wilderness Of Desert The Government of Gilgit- Baltistan organize Jeep rally an bike rally every year in summer due to the wilderness of this cold desert which also attract huge number of tourist from all over the Pakistan and World.

22. References https://guidetopakistan.pk/destination/sarfaranga-cold-desert/
https://lovinpakistan.com/katpana-desert/
https://www.thejure.com/have-you-ever-heard-about-this-unique-cold-desert/
https://m.blizin.com/articles/katpana-desert-cold-desert-skardu
http://www.wildlifeofpakistan.com/wilddogs.html
https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/onager
https://a-z-animals.com/animals/tibetan-fox/
https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/where-do-snow-leopards-live-and-nine-other-snow-leopard-facts