The Many Faces Of Afghanistan's Desert Regions

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South-Central Asia, with a varied geography of irrigated land, small but fertile river valleys, deep gorges, deserts, high plateaus, and snow-covered mountains. The country is divided into three distinct geographic regions by the Hindu Kush mountains: The Central Highlands, The Northern Plains, and the Southwestern Plateau. The Southwestern Plateau region is made up of high plateaus and sandy deserts, with infertile soil except along the rivers in the southwest. The region covers about 50,000 square miles and is crossed by several large rivers, including the Helmand.

The Hindu Kush mountain range, which reaches a height of 7,492 meters at Noshaq, Afghanistan's highest peak, has also created deep, narrow valleys in the Central Highlands region, which have been historically important to the defense of the country. The Khyber Pass, one of the most famous routes to the Indian subcontinent, is located in the mountain ranges of the Central Highlands.

The Registan Desert, also known as the 'country of sand', is a large semi-arid region in southwestern Afghanistan

The Registan Desert, also known as the country of sand, is a large semi-arid region in southwestern Afghanistan. It is an extremely dry plateau located between the provinces of Helmand and Kandahar, in the eastern part of the Iranian plateau. The desert covers an area of approximately 50,000 square kilometres, with a length of over 300 kilometres and a width of up to 200 kilometres. The plain sits at an altitude of 2,000 metres in the east, dropping to 600 metres in the west. The climate is subtropical, continental, and dry, with rainfall of up to 100mm per year.

The Registan is a sandy desert consisting of small, red sand hills about 50 to 100 feet high, sand-covered plains, and open rocky and clay-covered areas. The sand ridges and dunes alternate with windblown sand-covered planes, devoid of vegetation, and changing in some parts into barren gravel and clay. The underlying base of the hills consists of partly stabilized ancient transverse dunes, reflecting a west-to-east wind and a nearly unlimited sand supply. The region supports five endemic species of reptiles, including the Afghan toadhead agama, Missone's gecko, the point-snouted racerunner, and the dark-headed dwarf racer.

The Registan Desert is sparsely populated by Pashtun and Baloch nomads, who are herders of sheep, goats, and camels. They use portions of the Registan near the Helmand and Arghandab rivers as winter pasture. A severe drought in 1998 caused the displacement of approximately 100,000 nomadic people from the region, most of whom now live in temporary settlements between the Arghandab and Helmand Rivers. The desert is gradually encroaching on surrounding agricultural areas, with sand dunes moving onto farmland. This has been exacerbated by the loss of stabilising vegetation due to firewood gathering and overgrazing.

The Registan Desert is the eastern portion of the Sistan Basin, which is one of the driest regions on Earth. The basin is surrounded by mountains, with the Helmand River flowing through it from northeast to southwest, emptying into the endorheic Hamun Lake. The lowest point of the basin is the Godzareh depression at 466 metres, while the mean elevation is 878 metres. There are three distinct deserts in the basin: the Dasht-e Margo, the Registan Desert, and the Dasht-e Khash.

The Southern Plateau: a desolate region of about 50,000 sq. miles, with sandy deserts and infertile soil

The Southern Plateau is a desolate region of about 50,000 square miles, with sandy deserts and infertile soil. The average altitude of this area is about 3,000 feet, and it is crossed by several large rivers, including the Helmand. The Helmand River rises in the central mountains and flows through the Helmand Valley, emptying into the Sistan Basin, a desolate, marshy area on the Afghan-Iranian border. The Southern Plateau is characterised by high plateaus and sandy deserts, with infertile soil that makes agriculture challenging. However, along the rivers in the southwest, the soil can be more conducive to plant growth.

The Southern Plateau, also known as the Southwestern Plateau or the Southwestern Sandy Deserts, forms one of the distinct geographic regions of Afghanistan, divided from the rest of the country by the Hindu Kush mountain range. This region experiences a dry and arid climate, with scarce rainfall, particularly in the lowlands. The temperature in this region can vary significantly, with hot summers and cold winters. The combination of hot summers and bitterly cold winters has been compared to the climate of the U.S. state of Wyoming.

The Southern Plateau includes the Kandahar province, where the city of Kandahar is located. Kandahar enjoys a dry and mild climate at an elevation of about 3,500 feet. Sandstorms are not unusual in the deserts and arid plains of this region. The Southern Plateau also covers approximately 40,000 square miles of extremely fertile foothills and plains, where a significant portion of Afghanistan's agriculture thrives due to the presence of fertile soils and abundant water sources.

The Southern Plateau is not only important for agriculture but also for its natural resources. The region is known for its vast mineral deposits and natural gas reserves. The combination of its geographic features, climate, and natural resources makes the Southern Plateau a critical area for Afghanistan's economy and development.

The Central Highlands: a historically important region with dry summers and very cold winters

The Central Highlands of Afghanistan, also known as the Afghan Highlands, are a historically significant region with a total area of about 160,000 square miles or 414,000 square kilometres. This region is characterised by deep, narrow valleys and high mountains, with some peaks rising above 21,000 feet or 6,400 metres. The Hindu Kush mountain range, a western extension of the Himalayas, runs through the Central Highlands and forms a barrier between the Northern provinces and the rest of the country.

The Central Highlands have proven to be of great strategic importance throughout Afghanistan's history. The Khyber Pass, located in the mountain ranges of this region, is one of the most famous routes to the Indian subcontinent. The Hindu Kush range also includes other important passes such as the Unai Pass, the Kushan Pass, and the Salang Pass. These passes have been utilised by various invading forces throughout history, contributing to Afghanistan's reputation as the "graveyard of empires."

The Central Highlands experience dry summers and very cold winters. The temperature in January can drop below -30°C or -22°F. Snow generally falls between November and March, and even in the summer, snow can fall at altitudes above 4,000 metres in the Hindu Kush. The permanent snow line in the region ranges from 4,600 to 5,600 metres. The region also experiences a significant temperature variation within limited periods, with daily ranges exceeding 17°C or 31°F during the hot months from May to November.

The Central Highlands are home to various ethnic groups, including the Hazaras, Kyrgyz, Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Wakhis. The region has historically been inhabited by Indo-Iranian tribes, who referred to themselves as Arya or Aryans. The Central Highlands were also a significant area for pastoral communities, with about 225,000 square kilometres of summer pasture used by both settled communities and nomadic pastoralists.

The Central Highlands are traversed by several rivers, including the Kabul, Helmand, Farah, Hari, Marghab, and Panj rivers. These rivers provide a vital source of drinking water and irrigation for the region. However, the Central Highlands, like the rest of Afghanistan, experience low rainfall, with precipitation mostly occurring between December and April. The annual precipitation varies across the region, with North Salang in the east receiving an average of 39 inches or 992 millimetres, while Bamyan in the west receives only 5 inches or 133 millimetres.

The Central Highlands have a rich biodiversity, with forests existing between Nuristan and Paktika in the East Afghan montane conifer forests. The region is also home to various endangered species, including the Kashmir musk deer and the Persian leopard.

Overall, the Central Highlands of Afghanistan are a historically significant region with a diverse geography, culture, and climate that has played a crucial role in shaping the country's history and continues to be an important area for local communities and pastoralists.

The Northern Plains: a geographic region separated from the Northern provinces by the Hindu Kush mountains

Afghanistan is divided into three distinct geographic regions by the towering Hindu Kush mountains: The Central Highlands, The Northern Plains, and the Southwestern Plateau. The Northern Plains are separated from the Northern Provinces by the Hindu Kush mountains, which act as a buffer zone between major powers. The Hindu Kush is one of the world's great watersheds, forming part of the Alpine zone that stretches across Eurasia from east to west. The range is approximately 800km long and 150km wide, with peaks reaching over 7,000 meters in height.

The Northern Plains of Afghanistan are characterised by their lower altitude and flatter topography. This region experiences a more temperate climate compared to the higher elevations of the country. While still dry, the Northern Plains receive more rainfall than the arid lowlands further south. The region is home to several large rivers, including the Amu Darya, which forms a large part of the northern border with Central Asian republics. The Northern Plains also encompass the Turkestan plains, which are stony and desertic, with sand drifts and dunes prevalent. This area experiences a continental climate with hot summers and bitterly cold winters.

The Northern Plains region is an important agricultural hub for Afghanistan, with vast areas of fertile foothills and plains. The Amu River, also known as the Oxus, runs through the edge of the foothills, providing a vital water source for agriculture. Additionally, the region is rich in natural resources, boasting a vast amount of mineral deposits and natural gas.

The Northern Plains of Afghanistan encompass several provinces, including Balkh, with its capital of Mazar-e-Sharif, Jowzjan with its capital of Sheberghan, and Faryab, with its capital of Maymana. These provinces are home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, including Tajik, Uzbek, and Hazara people. The region has a long and tumultuous history, serving as a crossroads for traders and conquerors throughout the centuries.

The Northern Plains of Afghanistan, separated from the Northern Provinces by the majestic Hindu Kush mountains, present a distinct geographic region that plays a crucial role in the country's agriculture, economy, and cultural diversity.

The Southwestern Plateau: another geographic region separated from the Northern provinces by the Hindu Kush mountains

The Southwestern Plateau is a geographic region of Afghanistan, separated from the Northern provinces by the Hindu Kush mountains. This region is characterised by high plateaus, sandy deserts, and semi-deserts. Covering about 50,000 square miles, the Southwestern Plateau has an average altitude of about 3,000 feet. The region is crossed by several large rivers, including the Helmand, and its soil is very infertile, except along the rivers in the southwest.

The Southwestern Plateau is one of three distinct geographic regions in Afghanistan, the other two being the Central Highlands and the Northern Plains. These three regions are divided by the Hindu Kush mountains, which stretch for 500 miles (800 kilometres) from central and eastern Afghanistan into northwestern Pakistan and far southeastern Tajikistan. The Hindu Kush is one of the great watersheds of Central Asia, forming part of the vast Alpine zone that stretches across Eurasia from east to west. The range is also the western section of the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region (HKH), and the westernmost extension of the Pamir Mountains, the Karakoram, and the Himalayas.

The Hindu Kush has numerous high snow-capped peaks, with the highest point being Tirich Mir or Terichmir at 7,708 metres (25,289 feet) in the Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The range has several important passes, including the Kushan, Salang, and Khyber. The Khyber Pass, located in the Spin Ghar mountain range, connects Afghanistan with Pakistan.

The Southwestern Plateau is bordered by Iran to the west and Pakistan to the south and east. The region is very arid, with rainfall scarce and mainly affecting the northern highlands. The climate is extremely dry, with over 300 days of sunshine yearly. The average temperature on the plains is 0° to -8°C in January and about 24°C to 32°C in July.

Afghanistan's deserts in the Southwestern Plateau include the Dashti-Margo clay-rubble desert and the sandy Registan desert, which occupy large areas.

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