The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a mountainous country located in South-Central Asia.It is separated into 34 provinces, with the Afghanistan capital of Kabul being the largest city in the country. Afghanistan is primarily inhabited by ethnic Pashtuns, Uzbeks, Hazaras, and Tajiks.The country is peppered with rugged terrains and gigantic mountain peaks which is why it is sparsely populated. The Kabul population in 2021 was somewhere near 4.6 million. However, if you plan on visiting the beautiful Band-e Amir national park or the holy Shrine of Hazrat Ali (Blue Mosque), then this article is for you.If you liked this article on the geography of Afghanistan, be sure to check out our articles on Afghanistan economy facts and Afghanistan food facts.What kind of geography does Afghanistan have?The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a mountainous landlocked country that has served as a crossroads for merchants and conquerors from all over the world due to its geographic location. The recorded history of Afghanistan began somewhere around 2000 B.C. and traces of it can still be found in its ancient cities such as Mazar-i-Sharif, Kabul, Herat, and Kandahar.The geography of Afghanistan mainly consists of rugged mountains, high plateaus, deserts, irrigated land, deep gorges, and small but fertile river valleys. The eastern part of Afghanistan is split into many parts by the towering and rugged mountains of the Pamirs and the Hindu Kush, with peaks rising up as high as 25,289 ft (7,708 m).The major rivers of Afghanistan drain into the Arghandab and Helmand river valleys located in the southwest part of the country. They further flow into a forlorn, marshy area called Seistan near the Afghan-Iranian border. However, the Kabul River flows southeast and drains into the Indus River. The Amu Darya River comprises a considerable part of the northern boundary with the other countries of Central Asia.Afghanistan Mountain RangesThe major mountain ranges in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan are -Hindu Kush Mountains: The Hindu Kush Mountains stretch from central and western Afghanistan into northwestern Pakistan and far southeastern Tajikistan. Beginning from the west of the Afghan capital of Kabul, the mountain system runs northeast to southwest for 500 mi (800 km). To its east, the mountain system braces the Pamir mountains close to the confluence point of the border of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir with the Afghan and China borders. From there, the range runs southwest through Pakistan and into Afghanistan, finally coalescing into minor ranges in western Afghanistan. The highest peak of this South-Central Asian mountain range is Mount Tirich Mir at 25,289 ft (7,708 m), located near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.Karakoram Range: This great mountain system has its easternmost extension in Afghanistan from where it runs in a southeasterly direction into Central and South Asia. A part of the complex mountain ranges lying at the heart of Asia, the Karakoram Range has the Pamir range to its northwest, the Himalayas to its southeast, the Kunlun Mountains to its northeast, and the Hindu Kush to its west. Extending for 300 mi (500 km), the Karakorams cover the borders of Afghanistan, China, Tajikistan, and India, thus making the remote region an area of tremendous geopolitical significance. The highest peak of this mountain system is K2, which is the second-highest peak of the world with an elevation of 28,251 ft (8,611 m).The Pamir Mountains: This highland region of Central Asia lies predominantly in Tajikistan although its fringes penetrate Afghanistan, China, and Kyrgyzstan. The southern part of the mountain system runs along the Wakhan Corridor of Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan. The highest peak is Kongur Tagh with an elevation of 25,095 ft (7,649 m).Where Is Afghanistan Located On The Map?Afghanistan is a mountainous landlocked country located in southern Asia. Situated in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth, Afghanistan is bordered by Pakistan to the south and east, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan to the north, and Iran to the west.Afghanistan covers a surface area of 2,49,900 sq miles (6,47,230 sq km) which is roughly about the size of the state of Texas in the United States. The geography of Afghanistan is majorly a rugged, inhospitable mountainous landscape, with more than half of the total land area having an elevation of 6,500 ft (2,000 m).The Three Main Geographic Regions Of AfghanistanThe imposing Hindu Kush mountains construct a barrier between the Northern provinces and the rest of Afghanistan. The mountain system divides Afghanistan into three well-defined geographic regions known as, the Central Highlands, the Northern Plains, and the Southwestern Plateau. The Northern Plains consists of a major chunk of the most fertile land in the continent of Asia. It also constitutes the main agricultural region of Afghanistan. Even though the land is fertile and rich, the inadequacy in rainfall creates a major hurdle in doing agriculture here. Hence, farming is only possible in irrigated land areas or near river valleys. Cotton and rice are the main agricultural crops found in this region. The grasslands offer grazing areas for farm animals such as goats and sheep. The area is also rich in mineral resources and natural gas.The Central Highlands, comprising of towering peaks and deep, narrow valleys, unfolds over a two-thirds portion of the country and spans over roughly 160,000 square mi (414,398 sq km). The primary mountain system in the region is the Hindu Kush mountain range which is an extension of the Himalayan Mountains. The Central Highlands serves as an important defense of the country throughout Afghan history, warding off many foreign conquerors. Khyber Pass, one of the most famous routes to the Indian subcontinent is located here. The highest mountain peak of the country, Nowshak, is found here with an elevation of 6,640 ft (2,024 m). The Kabul River is also situated here which is about 320 mi (515 km) in length.The Southwestern Plateau region is mainly made up of sandy deserts and high plateaus. This desolate province covers about 50,000 sq mi (129,499.4 sq km) and is traversed by several long rivers including the Helmand river. The average altitude of this area is about 3,000 ft (914.4 m).Some Major Landforms In AfghanistanAfghanistan is peppered with snow-covered mountains, deep and narrow valleys, and high plains.Nowshak is the highest mountain peak in the country with an elevation of 6,640 ft (2,024 m).Kohe Shakhawr is the second highest peak in the country with an elevation of 23,346 ft (7,115.8 m).Shar Dhar is the third highest mountain peak and has an elevation of 23,091 ft (7,038 m).Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 69 interesting facts about Afghanistan’s geography you should know then why not take a look at Afghanistan religion facts, or Afghanistan government facts?
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a mountainous country located in South-Central Asia.
