Thal Desert

The Thal is a sandy desert between the Indus floodplain to the west and the Jhelum and Chenab rivers to the east. It extends south from the foot of the Salt Range, its shifting dunes broken by scattered grasses and small settlements. Rain is scarce, winds can be strong, and temperatures vary greatly between day and night. Farming and livestock keeping support the inhabitants of this dry country, where the sandy upland stands in marked contrast to the river lands on either side.