Assertion (A) : Patagonian desert is the largest desert in Argentina Reason (R) : The marked continentality of the region creates the desert like conditions

Assertion (A) : Patagonian desert is the largest desert in Argentina Reason (R) : The marked continentality of the region creates the desert like conditions Correct Answer A is true but R is false

The correct answer is option 3, i.e A is true but R is false.

  • The Patagonian Desert, also known as the Patagonian Steppe is the largest desert in Argentina and is the 8th largest desert in the world by area.
  • The Andes Mountain, to the desert's west, is the primary reason for the Patagonian desert's arid status.
  • The climatic barrier of the southern Andes is so complete, that the moisture laden westerlies hardly ever reach Patagonia.
  • Thus, the region is subjected to aridity rather than continentality.
  • The rain-shadow effect produced by great mountains can create arid areas in the leeward side of the mountains even when continentality is not particularly marked, such as in Patagonia desert. Hence, R is false.
  • That is why, despite approximately half of the desert being only about 200 miles from the ocean, such a large desert is found in the region.
  • The cold Falkland Current (east of desert) off the Atlantic coast of South America also contributes to the area's aridity.

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