Page 165 - SST Class 07
P. 165
The Ladakh region
experiences extreme
cold in winters. The
nighttime temperature
can be as low as 30°C
even during summers, Ladakhi people Dussehra in Ladakh A yak
while it touches a low of
Ladakh mountains People
–40°C in winters.
The Ladakhi people are hard–working. Their chief
Info Bits occupations include rearing of sheep, goats and
Info Bits
yaks for milk, meat, hair and hides. Pashmina is a
Leh is the coldest place where –28°C temperature famous variety of woollens made from goat’s hair.
is recorded in January. Woollen clothes are woven during winters. Some
crops are grown in summer months.
The air is very thin. Extreme cold can cause
frostbite and thin air can cause sunstroke. You In addition, tourism is a vibrating industry here
may be amazed to know that a person sitting with during summer months. Many people from within
some part in sun and some part in shadow can the country and abroad visit Ladakh to witness the
suffer from both frostbite and sunstroke at the festival of Dussehra which is celebrated with
same time. much fanfare.
Activity
Info Bits
Info Bits Make a tourism leaflet for Ladakh, highlighting the
vegetation and climatic conditions of the place.
q The Tibetan antelope or Chiru is killed for its
hair. Its hair is used for making wool called The chief religions of the people here are Islam
shahtoosh. This type of wool is very light and and Buddhism. The people live in perfect
warm, but it has made this species endangered. harmony with nature. They use natural resources
q Drass is one of the coldest inhabited places on only as much as are needed. They have profound
the earth. respect for natural beauty and resources. They
have a lesson to teach to the people of the world.
Flora and Fauna
Quiz Time
Water being frozen due to extreme cold, there is
scarcity of water, so vegetation is sparse here. Write True or False :
Some grasses and shrubs grow which the animals 1. The people living near the oases lead
feed on. During summer months, water in rivers a settled life. ________
and glaciers melts, making it possible to grow
some crops of wheat, barley and vegetables in the 2. Ladakh is a hot desert. ________
valley. Small quantities of apples, walnuts, 3. In Ladakh, the night time temperature
apricots and mulberries are also grown. can be as low as 20°C. ________
Animal life is not very vibrant in the Ladakh 4. There is no scarcity of water found
region due to extreme cold. Some migratory birds in Ladakh. ________
can be sighted here, such as robins, redstarts, 5. The chief religions in Ladakh are
raven, Tibetan snowcock etc. You can find wild Islam and Buddhism. ________
goats, wild sheep and yaks here. These animals
are used for milk, meat and hides. Yaks are also 6. We can find an oasis in Ladakh. ________
used for transportation of goods. The hair of sheep 7. Ladakh lies in the rain shadow
is used for making wool. region of the Himalayas. ________
Life in Deserts
165
