8The Land of Sand

GetSet! You read about deserts in Chapter 4. Write the names of a few things that are found in a desert.

Sand

are located on eserts are dry lands. They receive deserts. Most hot deserts Dvery little rainfall. There are two the western side of the continents. See types of deserts hot deserts and cold Map 8.1 and learn the names.

ARCTIC A

Arctic Circle Arctic Circle

NORTH EUROPE NORTH NORTH NORTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC ATLANTIC PACIFIC OCEAN California OCEAN Desert Thar OCEAN Sahara Arabian Desert Tropicof Cancer Tropic of Cancer Desert Desert

AFRICA Equator Equator INDIAN OCEAN sOUTH AMERICA soUTH Atacama SOUTH Tropic of Capricor Desert Kalahari. Tropic of Capricorn PAGIFIC ATLANTIC Desen SOUTH West AustralianAUSTRALIA OCEAN PACIFIC OCEAN Desert OCEAN

ANTARCTIC OCEAN

Antarctic CArcle Antarcic Circle ANTARCTICA

Map 8.1 Hot deserts of the world 52

see inside front cover. For detailed instructions, SAUDI ARABIA Height in Metres IRA The Arabian Peninsula, in Isg ABL More than 3000 2000-33000 the south-west of Asia, is ORDAN TRAN 1000-2000 a hot desert. Saudi Arabia NAFU D' 500-1000 tbuk A N 200-500 most of the Tayma , KUWAIT occupies 0-200 peninsula. Below Sea Level

Al Jubay U

Location hledina BAHRAIN Al Hufufe RIYADH Saudi Arabia is the fifth OATAR SAUDI ddah in Asia. It Mecca ARABIA largest country UAE is surrounded by Jordan, Turabah Iraq. Kuwait, Qatar, KHALT RUBAL Bahrain, the United Arab oAbha Emirates (UAE), Oman and Yemen. The Red Sea is in

the west and the Persian RE YEMEN ARABIAN Gulf is in the east. ETHIOPIA oF A DEN SEA DIBOUTI GULF Land Map 8.2 Saudi Arabia and the neighbouring countries Most of Saudi Arabia is a rocky plateau covered by a vast desert. Climate About half of the country is a barren Saudi Arabia has an extremely hot desert. There are mountains on the climate. There is hardly any rainfall. western side, near the Red Sea. In fact, there may be no rainfall for The interior of the country is Water flows in wadis only when it rains. covered with sand. Rub al-Khali in the south and An Nafud in the north are continuous bodies of sand. This region is dotted with sand dunes. Strong winds often shift the dunes from one place to another. There are no lakes or permanent rivers in Saudi Arabia. The wadis or streams that are formed after the rains last for a short time. So, there Is an acute shortage of fresh water in the country. several in the desert. years. The summer season lasts live from May to The is Falcons, eagles, September. weather vultures, rabbits, mice very hot and dry during the The daytime. are nights are cool. The winter and wild goats relatively commonly found here. Season a here. lasts from October to April. camel is the most The days are warm while the The nights desert. are animal in the very cold. In the coastal areas, the useful to walk temperatures are mild. Sandstorms are Its feet are adapted can also live common in all seasons. on sand. It water without food and A man w Vegetation for many days. his falco Plants that grow here can withstand the hot and dry weather. Most plants have Economic activities of Saudi Arabia is long roots which go deep A very small part into the soil in search suitable for growing crops. The main of water. They also agricultural products are wheat, rice, have soft and fleshy alfalfa, dates and vegetables. Water roots and stems too needed for irrigation and domestic use Tamarisk shrub store water. Sedge, is obtained by desalinating sea water. tamarisk and date palm grow here. Date palms grow in areas where the underground water comes to the Wildlife surface. Such an area is called an oasis. Many animals are found here. Different Permanent settlements are found near types of insects, snakes and scorpions 0ases.

An oasis provides food and water to tired travellers. A petroleum refining unit in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is one of the largest Life of the people producers of petroleum in the world. The discovery of petroleum has changed Almost the entire income of the country the lifestyle of the people. The money is comes from the export of petroleum. The earned from exporting petroleum government is developing different types being used for the development of the of industries such as petrochemicals, country. Towns and cities have grown petroleum refining. power generation rapidly. The people who were nomads and telecom. These industries employ earlier, now live a settled life. They a large number of people. work as traders or in factories. People in villages still lead a traditional life. Most people live by Checkpoint tending flocks of sheep, goats and Fill in the blanks. 1. The Arabian Desert is a desert. FactWise Sea lies to the 2. The Saudi Arabia has 18 per cent of the west of the country. world's petroleum reserves. It is the or lakes, 3. Since there are no rivers largest exporter of petroleum. Natural faces an acute Saudi Arabia gas, iron ore, gold and copper are also found here. shortage of 55 animals to these make hair of use the camels. Some and rugs. clothes, tents people still lead the Bedouins camn During summer a nomadic life. winter follow oasis. In they near an They move from the deserts where the routes through one place to lamb, water. They exchange another in search there is wool, carpets and camels of pastures and sheep, goats, and other useful dates, foodgrains water sources. for Arab men wear things. of the Bedouins is loose, long The lifestyle Many have given up sleeved, one- now changing. and have settled in piece dress that their nomadic ways covers the whole urban areas. body. They also wear a cloth over Cities An Arab man and a woman both old in their traditional dresses their head, held Saudi Arabia has many cities, cities have all the in place by a ring woven from camel and new. The new hair. Women wear loose black cloaks. modern facilities. Riyadh is the capital of the country. People in cities wear western clothes. It is a modern city with skyscrapers, Bedouins parks, markets, educational institutions Bedouins are nomadic people. They and hospitals. Jeddah is a commercial lead a very hard life. Most of them live city and a busy port. Mecca and Medina by breeding camels, sheep and horses. are holy cities in Saudi Arabia. People They get milk from the animals and come here for pilgrimage.

A caravan moving in the desert

A Bedouin with his camel wrds to know

wadi wide passage in a desert that contains water after rains desalinating the process of removing salt from sea water

Quick recap

Saudi Arabia lies in Asia. it has a hot and dry climate. Rainfall is scarce here. The camel is the most important animal here The land around an oasis is used to grow crops such as wheat, barley and date palms. The country exports petroleum. This has made Saudi Arabia very rich. Bedouins are nomads living in Saudi Arabia. Most of them still lead a traditional life.

There are many big cities. Riyadh is the capital.

Read and answer

A Tick ( the correct answers. 1. To the north of Saudi Arabia lies the country of a. Qatar. b. b. Iraq. c. Yemen. d. Oman. 2. Much of the water is obtained a. from oases. .bydesalinating sea water. b. from wadis. d. from wells. 3. Saudi Arabia earns a lot of money by exporting a. dates. b. camels. c.sand. d. petroleum. 4. The capital of the country is a. Jeddah. b. Riyadh. c. Mecca. d. An Nafud. is a seaport that lies along the Red Sea.

a. Jeddah b. Medina c. Mecca d. Riyadh

B Circle the odd one in each. Give reasons for your answer. 1. Arabian Desert Arabian Peninsula Sahara Desert Thar Desert 2. Afghanistan Iraq Oman Yemen 3. Riyadh Mecca Qatar Medina 4. polar bear camel goat sheep 57 5. date palm wheat barley coconut palm Answer these questions.

t. Saudi Arabia located? List the countries that surround 2. Why is there a shortage of water in the country 3. What type of climate does Saudi Arabia have? way has the of helped the people inof whatthe country? discovery petroleum A Bedouin 5. Describe the life of the Bedouins. woman DThink and answer. HOT Men in Saudi Arabia mostly wear white cdothes and keep their heads and necks covered. Why?

Do and learn

E ACTIVITY Fill in the table about Saudi Arabia. wwwww Official Main Total Currency Total area language religion population

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F Find the names of six countries other than Saudi Arabia, that produce petroleum.

G Draw an imaginary desert animal. Write a few lines on its special physical features which allow it to survive in the desert.

WEBLINK To watch a video on the culture and heritage of Saudi Arabia, visit rsgr.in/bss505.

VALUE Water is an important natural resource. We must save it. Are you a water saver? Put a () against what you do.

1. I take only as much water as I can drink.

2. I keep the tap closed while brushing my teeth.

3. I take a bucket bath. 4. I turn off the tap once the bucket is full.

5. I report a leak in the taps to my parents.