Editing Thar Desert (section)

==People==
{{Main|Thar people}}
The [[Thar people]] are the natives of the area.  The Thar Desert is the most widely populated desert in the world, with a population density of 83 people per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=Singh2007>Singh, P. (ed.) (2007). [http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/wrkgrp11/tf11_grass.pdf "Report of the Task Force on Grasslands and Deserts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210071534/http://planningcommission.nic.in/aboutus/committee/wrkgrp11/tf11_grass.pdf |date=10 December 2011 }}. Government of India Planning Commission, New Delhi.</ref> In India, the inhabitants comprise [[Hindu]]s, [[Jain]]s, [[Sikh]]s, and [[Muslim]]s. In Pakistan, inhabitants include both Muslims and Hindus.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1167315|title=Mithi: Where a Hindu fasts and a Muslim does not slaughter cows|last=Raza|first=Hassan|date=5 March 2012|work=Dawn}}</ref>

About 40% of the total population of [[Rajasthan]] lives in the Thar Desert.<ref name=Gupta2008>Gupta, M. L. (2008). ''Rajasthan Gyan Kosh''. 3rd Edition. Jojo Granthagar, Jodhpur. {{ISBN|81-86103-05-8}}</ref> The main occupations of the inhabitants are agriculture and [[animal husbandry]].

[[Jodhpur]], the largest city in the region, lies in the scrub forest zone at the desert's perimeter. [[Bikaner]] and [[Jaisalmer]] are the largest cities located entirely in the desert.
{{gallery
|File:gaduliya.jpg|A girl from the [[Gadia Lohar]]s nomadic tribe of [[Marwar]], cooking her food.
|File:Thar life.jpg|Thar life
|File:Désert-du-Thar.jpg|Desert tribes near Jaisalmer, India
}}
[[File:Camel rides in Jaisalmer, Thar Desert 15.jpg|left|thumb|Camel riding in Thar Desert]]

=== Water and housing in the desert ===
In the true desert areas, the only sources of water for animals or humans are small, scattered ponds - some that are natural (''tobas'') and some that are human-made (''[[johad]]s''). The persistence of [[water scarcity]] heavily influences life in all areas of the Thar, prompting many inhabitants to adopt a [[nomads|nomadic]] lifestyle.{{Citation needed|date=February 2014}} Most of the permanent human settlements are located near the two seasonal streams of the Karon-Jhar hills. Potable groundwater is also rare in the Thar Desert. Much of it tastes sour due to dissolved minerals. Potable water is mostly available only  deep underground. When wells are dug that happen to yield sweet tasting water, people tend to settle near them, but such wells are difficult and dangerous to dig, sometimes claiming the lives of the well-diggers.{{Citation needed|date=February 2014}}

Crowded housing conditions are common in some areas.
{{gallery
|File:House in the Thar.JPG|Huts in the Thar Desert
|File:Johad.JPG|[[Johad]]s are common water sources
|File:GRAVIS employees at Taanka.JPG|Tanks for drinking water
}}
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