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Geography and Environment of Afghanistan
Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Afghanistan.
Speed
Overview
landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)
Detailed geography
Physical Features
- Terrain
- mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
- Climate
- Afghanistan's climate compromises a cold, snowy winter and hot, dry summer. Extreme temperature changes occur from night to day, season to season, and from place to place. During summer in Kabul (altitude 5,800 feet) the temperature may be 50° F at sunrise but reach 100° F by noon. In the Jalalabad Plains (1,800 feet and 90 miles from Kabul) and southwestern parts of the country, summer temperatures can reach 115° F. The chief characteristic of Afghanistan's climate is a blue cloudless sky with over 300 days of sunshine yearly. Even during the winter, skies usually remain clear between snowfalls. Since rainfall is scarce from May to November, this period can be extremely dry and dusty. In recent years, drought has impaired agricultural production in some areas.
- Weather Patterns
- http://voap.weather.com/weather/oap/AFXX0003?template=TRVLH&par=1003114983&unit=0&key=5b85ae1d85877a1b34827fba743e2133
- Highest Point
- 7485 — Nowshak 7,485 m
- Lowest Point
- 258 — Amu Darya 258 m
Borders and Area
- Area (Comparative)
- slightly smaller than Texas
- Border Countries
- China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km
Natural Resources and Hazards
- Natural Resources
- natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
- Natural Hazards
- damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts
Environment and Land Use
- Current Environmental Issues
- limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution
- International Agreements
- party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation