The Indian Desert is also known as the Thar Desert, which is a large, arid region in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. It covers an area of more than 200, 000 square kilometers and stretches from the Sutlej-Indus river valley in the north to the Aravalli Range in the south. The Thar Desert is one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, with temperatures reaching up to 50°C in the summer and dropping to below freezing in the winter. Despite its harsh conditions, the Thar Desert is home to a variety of wildlife, including the endangered Great Indian Bustard and the Asiatic Wild Ass.