Lexi Webster
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South-Central Asia, known for its rugged, mountainous terrain. The Hindu Kush mountains, a logical extension of the Himalayan Mountains, form a barrier between the Northern provinces and the rest of the country. The Hindu Kush is the most important mountain range in the country, with peaks rising to about 24,000 feet. The highest peak in Afghanistan is Mount Noshaq, at 7,492 metres. Mountains cover as much as 80% of the country's land, with more than 49% of the total land area lying above 2,000 metres.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Geography | Landlocked |
| Mountain Range | Hindu Kush |
| Mountain Peaks | 1,596 named mountains |
| Highest Peak | Mount Noshaq (7,492m) |
| Mountain System | Hindukush |
| Mountain Passes | Khyber Pass, Kotal-e Salang, Kotal-e Lataband, Kotal-e Shibar, Baroghil, Kachin, Shotorgardan, Bazarak, Khawak, Anjuman, Hajigak, Unai, Sabzak |
| Rivers | Amu Darya, Kabul, Helmand, Arghandab, Hari, Farah, Kokcha, Kunar |
| Lakes | Lake Shiva, Sarykul, Bandi Amir, Namaksar, Sabari, Daghi-Tundi |
| Natural Resources | Natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones |
| Climate | Subtropical continental and arid |
| Average Temperature (Summer) | 24-32°C (75-90°F) |
| Average Temperature (Winter) | 0° to -8°C (32-18°F) |
What You'll Learn
The Hindu Kush mountains
The Hindu Kush range is divided into three distinct geographic regions: the Central Highlands, the Northern Plains, and the Southwestern Plateau. The Central Highlands, with an area of about 160,000 square miles, is a region of deep, narrow valleys and lofty mountains, some peaks of which rise above 21,000 feet. The Northern Plains, north of the Central Highlands, comprise about 40,000 square miles of plains and fertile foothills, with an average elevation of about 2,000 feet. The Southwestern Plateau, south of the Central Highlands, is a region of high plateaus, sandy deserts, and semi-deserts, with an average elevation of about 3,000 feet.
The Hindu Kush range has played a significant role in the history of the region. It was a centre of Hinduism and Buddhism, with ancient monasteries and trade networks connecting Central and South Asia. Later, it became a passageway for invasions of the Indian subcontinent and continues to be important in contemporary warfare in Afghanistan. The range also served as a geographical barrier between the British Empire and Central Asian peoples during the colonial era.
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The Central Highlands
Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South-Central Asia, known for its rugged, mountainous terrain. The country is divided into three distinct geographic regions by the huge Hindu Kush mountains: The Central Highlands, The Northern Plains, and the Southwestern Plateau.
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The Northern Plains
The Bactrian Plain, in the northern part of Afghanistan, has numerous rivers in the foothills of the Paropamisus and the Hindu Kush. It gradually turns into a desert in the northernmost part of the country.
The Southwestern Plateau
Several large rivers cross the Southwestern Plateau, including the Helmand River and its major tributary, the Arghandāb. The Helmand system rises in the central mountains section and passes through the centre of the Southwestern Plateau. It empties into the endorheic Sīstān basin through the Hāmūn-e Helmand system, a series of marshes and connecting lakes. In exceptionally wet years, it empties into the Gowd-e Zereh, an ephemeral brackish lake. The area as a whole is an alluvial plain of about 500-600m altitude and is characterised by surrounding sandy and rocky desert.
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The Wakhan Corridor
The corridor is about 200 miles long and varies in width from 8 to 40 miles. It is bordered by the Pamir River and Lake Zorkul in the west and the Pamir Mountains in the east. The corridor is higher in the east, with the Wakhjir Pass reaching an elevation of 16,152 feet, and descends to about 9,964 feet at Ishkashim.
The area is home to the Kyrgyz nomads, who survive in one of the most remote, high-altitude, and challenging landscapes on Earth. They move their herds across the Wakhan, living in yurts and practising transhumance according to the seasons and the availability of grass for their animals. The Kyrgyz population in the region is estimated to be around 1,100 people, and they have a rudimentary educational system.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, mountains dominate the landscape in Afghanistan, with more than 49% of the total land area lying above 2,000 meters. The country is landlocked and mountainous, located on the Iranian Plateau.
The Hindu Kush range is the most important mountain system in Afghanistan, with peaks reaching above 7,000 meters. The Hindu Kush is considered a logical extension of the Himalayan Mountains. Other major ranges include the Pamir, Wakhan, Sulaiman, and Karakoram Mountains.
The highest peak in Afghanistan is Mount Noshaq, also spelt Noshak or Nowshakh, in the Hindu Kush range. It rises to a height of 7,492 meters, though its southern and eastern slopes lie in Pakistan.
The mountains of Afghanistan form a barrier between the Northern provinces and the rest of the country, dividing it into three distinct geographic regions: The Central Highlands, The Northern Plains, and the Southwestern Plateau. They also contain important passes that serve as major trade routes and have been used for military invasions throughout history.
