Geography of Afghanistan
 | |
| Continent | Asia |
|---|---|
| Region | Central Asia / South Asia |
| Coordinates | 33°00′N 65°00′E / 33.000°N 65.000°E |
| Area | Ranked 40th |
| • Total | 652,864 km2 (252,072 sq mi) |
| Coastline | 0 km (0 mi) |
| Borders | Pakistan 2,670 km (1,660 mi), Tajikistan 1,357 km (843 mi), Iran 921 km (572 mi), Turkmenistan 804 km (500 mi), Uzbekistan 144 km (89 mi), China 91 km (57 mi) |
| Highest point | Noshaq, 7,492 m (24,580 ft) |
| Lowest point | Amu Darya at Khamyab, 258 m (846 ft) |
| Longest river | Helmand River |
| Largest lake | Kamal Khan Dam Kajaki Dam Dahla Dam Naghlu Dam Band-e Amir Qargha |
| Climate | Arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers |
| Terrain | mostly low plateau with deserts, rangelands and a fertile plain in the southeast |
| Natural resources | natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stone[1][2][3][4][5] |
| Natural hazards | earthquakes, flooding, avalanches |
| Environmental issues | limited fresh water, soil degradation, overgrazing, deforestation, desertification, air pollution, water pollution |
Afghanistan is a landlocked mountainous country located on the Iranian Plateau,[6] at the crossroads of Central Asia[7][8] and South Asia.[9][10] The country is the 40th largest in the world in size. Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan, located in the Kabul Province. With a location at the intersection of major trade routes, Afghanistan has attracted a succession of invaders since the sixth century BCE.[11]
Afghanistan contains most of the Hindu Kush. There are a number of major rivers in the country, including Amu Darya, Arghandab, Farah, Hari, Helmand, Kabul, Kokcha, and Kunar. The country also possesses many smaller rivers as well as streams, canals, lakes, ponds, and springs. Most of its fresh water historically flowed into neighboring countries.[12]
Area and boundaries
[edit]- Area
-
- total: 652,864 km2 (252,072 sq mi)
- country rank in the world: 40th
- land: 652,230 km2 (251,830 sq mi)
- water: 630 km2 (240 sq mi)
- total: 652,864 km2 (252,072 sq mi)
- Area — comparative
-
- Australia comparative: approximately 2/3 the size of South Australia
- Canada comparative: approximately the size of Saskatchewan
- United Kingdom comparative: approximately 2+2/3 times the size of the United Kingdom
- United States comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Idaho
- EU comparative: slightly larger than France
- Land boundaries
-
- total: 3,736 km (2,321 mi)
- border countries: Pakistan 2,670 km (1,660 mi), Tajikistan 1,357 km (843 mi), Iran 921 km (572 mi), Turkmenistan 804 km (500 mi), Uzbekistan 144 km (89 mi), China 91 km (57 mi)
- total: 3,736 km (2,321 mi)
- Coastline
-
- 0 km
- Maritime claims
- none (landlocked)
Mountain systems
[edit] |
The Hindu Kush mountain range reaches a height of 7,492 m (24,580 ft) at Noshaq, Afghanistan's highest peak. Of the ranges extending southwestward from the Hindu Kush, the Foladi peak (Shah Foladi) of the Baba mountain range (Koh-i-Baba) reaches the greatest height: 5,142 m (16,870 ft). The Safed Koh range, which includes the Tora Bora area, dominates the border area southeast of Kabul.
Important passes include the Unai Pass across the Safed Koh, the Kushan and Salang Passes through the Hindu Kush, and the Khyber Pass that connects Afghanistan with Pakistan. The summit of the Khyber Pass at 1,070 m (3,510 ft) at Landi Kotal, Pakistan is 5 km (3 mi) east of the border town of Torkham. Other key passages through the mountainous Pakistan border include two from Paktika Province into Pakistan's Waziristan region: one at Angoor Ada, and one further south at the Gumal River crossing, plus the Charkai River passage south of Khost, Afghanistan, at Pakistan's Ghulam Khan village into North Waziristan. The busy Pak-Afghan border crossing at Wesh, Afghanistan is in a flat and dry area, though this route involves Pakistan's Khojak Pass at 2,707 m (8,881 ft) just 14 km (9 mi) from the border. The border connects Kandahar and Spin Boldak in Afghanistan with Quetta in Pakistan.
The Wakhan Corridor in the northeast lies eastward of the province of Panjshir, between the Hindu Kush and the Pamir Mountains, which leads to the Wakhjir Pass into Xinjiang in China. In Kabul, and over all the northern part of the country to the descent at Gandamak, winter is rigorous, especially so on the high Arachosian plateau.
Although Herat is approximately 240 m (787 ft) lower than Kandahar, the summer climate there is more temperate along with the yearly climate. From May to September, the wind blows from the northwest with great force, and this extends across the country to Kandahar. The winter is mild; snow melts as it falls, and even on the mountains does not lie long. Three years out of four at Herat it does not freeze hard enough for the people to store ice. Yet, it was not very far from Herat, in Rafir Kala, in 1750, where Ahmad Shah's army, retreating from Persia, is said to have lost 18,000 men from cold in a single night. In the northern Herat districts records of the coldest month (February) show the mean minimum as −8 °C (18 °F) and the maximum as 3 °C (37 °F). The eastern reaches of the Hari River, including the rapids, are frozen hard in the winter, and people travel on it as on a road.
Climate
[edit]
Rainfall in Afghanistan is very scarce, and mainly only affects the northern highlands, arriving in March and April. Rainfall in the more arid lowlands is rare, and can be very unpredictable.[13] Marked characteristics are the great differences of summer and winter temperature and of day and night temperature, as well as the extent to which change of climate can be attained by slight change of place. The Afghan climate is a dry one. The sun shines for three-fourths of the year, and the nights are clearer than the days.
Taking the highlands of the country as a whole, there is no great difference between the mean temperature of Afghanistan and that of the lower Himalaya. However, a remarkable feature of the Afghan climate is its extreme temperature range within limited periods. The smallest daily range in the north is when the weather is cold; the greatest is when it is hot. For seven months of the year (from May to November) this range exceeds 17 °C (31 °F) daily. Waves of intense cold occur, lasting for several days, and one may have to endure temperatures of −24 °C (−11 °F), rising to a maximum of −8 °C (18 °F). At Ghazni the snow has been known to stay long beyond the vernal equinox; the temperatures sink as low as −25 °C (−13 °F). Oral tradition tells of the destruction of the entire population of Ghazni by snowstorms on more than one occasion.[citation needed] On the other hand, the summer temperature is exceedingly high, especially in the Oxus regions, where a shade maximum of 45–50 °C (113–122 °F) is not uncommon.
The summer heat is strong in the Sistan Basin, Jalalabad and Turkestan. The simoom wind occurs in Kandahar province during the summer. The hot season is rendered more intense by frequent dust storms and strong winds; whilst the bare rocky ridges that traverse the country, absorbing heat by day and radiating it by night, render the summer nights most oppressive. In Kabul the heat is tempered occasionally by cool breezes from the Hindu Kush, and the nights are usually cool. In Kandahar snow seldom falls on the plains or lower hills; when it does, it melts at once.
The combination of hot summers and bitterly cold winters has been noted comparable to the U.S. state of Wyoming.[14]
The summer rains that accompany the southwest monsoon in India, beat along the southern slopes of the Himalaya, and travel up the Kabul valley as far as Laghman, though they are more clearly felt in Bajour and Panjkora, under the Hindu Kush, and in the eastern branches of Safed Koh. Rain also falls at this season at the head of Kurram valley. South of this the Suliman mountains may be taken as the western limit of the monsoon's action. It is not felt in the rest of Afghanistan, in which, as in the rest of western Asia, the winter rains and snow are the most considerable. The spring rain, though less copious, is more important to agriculture than the winter rain, unless where the latter falls in the form of snow. In the absence of monsoon influences there are steadier weather indications than in India. The north-west blizzards which occur in winter and spring are the most noticeable feature, and their influence is clearly felt on the Indian frontier.
Examples
[edit]| Climate data for Kabul (1956–1983) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.8 (65.8) |
18.4 (65.1) |
26.7 (80.1) |
28.7 (83.7) |
33.5 (92.3) |
36.8 (98.2) |
37.8 (100.0) |
37.3 (99.1) |
35.1 (95.2) |
31.6 (88.9) |
24.4 (75.9) |
20.4 (68.7) |
37.8 (100.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 4.5 (40.1) |
5.5 (41.9) |
12.5 (54.5) |
19.2 (66.6) |
24.4 (75.9) |
30.2 (86.4) |
32.1 (89.8) |
32.0 (89.6) |
28.5 (83.3) |
22.4 (72.3) |
15.0 (59.0) |
8.3 (46.9) |
19.5 (67.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.3 (27.9) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
6.3 (43.3) |
12.8 (55.0) |
17.3 (63.1) |
22.8 (73.0) |
25.0 (77.0) |
24.1 (75.4) |
19.7 (67.5) |
13.1 (55.6) |
5.9 (42.6) |
0.6 (33.1) |
12.1 (53.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.1 (19.2) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
0.7 (33.3) |
6.0 (42.8) |
8.8 (47.8) |
12.4 (54.3) |
15.3 (59.5) |
14.3 (57.7) |
9.4 (48.9) |
3.9 (39.0) |
−1.2 (29.8) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
4.3 (39.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −25.5 (−13.9) |
−24.8 (−12.6) |
−12.6 (9.3) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
0.4 (32.7) |
3.1 (37.6) |
7.5 (45.5) |
6.0 (42.8) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−9.4 (15.1) |
−18.9 (−2.0) |
−25.5 (−13.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 34.3 (1.35) |
60.1 (2.37) |
67.9 (2.67) |
71.9 (2.83) |
23.4 (0.92) |
1.0 (0.04) |
6.2 (0.24) |
1.6 (0.06) |
1.7 (0.07) |
3.7 (0.15) |
18.6 (0.73) |
21.6 (0.85) |
312.0 (12.28) |
| Average rainy days | 2 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 48 |
| Average snowy days | 7 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 68 | 70 | 65 | 61 | 48 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 42 | 52 | 63 | 52 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 177.2 | 178.6 | 204.5 | 232.5 | 310.3 | 353.4 | 356.8 | 339.7 | 303.9 | 282.6 | 253.2 | 182.4 | 3,175.1 |
| Source: NOAA[15] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Jalalabad | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 25.0 (77.0) |
28.8 (83.8) |
34.5 (94.1) |
40.5 (104.9) |
45.4 (113.7) |
47.5 (117.5) |
44.7 (112.5) |
42.4 (108.3) |
41.2 (106.2) |
38.2 (100.8) |
32.4 (90.3) |
25.4 (77.7) |
47.5 (117.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 15.9 (60.6) |
17.9 (64.2) |
22.5 (72.5) |
28.3 (82.9) |
34.7 (94.5) |
40.4 (104.7) |
39.3 (102.7) |
38.0 (100.4) |
35.2 (95.4) |
30.5 (86.9) |
23.3 (73.9) |
17.5 (63.5) |
28.6 (83.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) |
10.9 (51.6) |
16.3 (61.3) |
21.9 (71.4) |
27.7 (81.9) |
32.7 (90.9) |
32.8 (91.0) |
31.9 (89.4) |
28.1 (82.6) |
22.2 (72.0) |
14.9 (58.8) |
9.5 (49.1) |
21.5 (70.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.9 (37.2) |
5.6 (42.1) |
10.5 (50.9) |
15.3 (59.5) |
19.8 (67.6) |
24.7 (76.5) |
26.7 (80.1) |
26.2 (79.2) |
21.4 (70.5) |
14.4 (57.9) |
6.9 (44.4) |
3.5 (38.3) |
14.8 (58.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −14.1 (6.6) |
−9.5 (14.9) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
6.1 (43.0) |
10.6 (51.1) |
13.5 (56.3) |
19.0 (66.2) |
17.5 (63.5) |
11.0 (51.8) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−5.5 (22.1) |
−14.1 (6.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 18.1 (0.71) |
24.3 (0.96) |
39.2 (1.54) |
36.4 (1.43) |
16.0 (0.63) |
1.4 (0.06) |
6.9 (0.27) |
7.7 (0.30) |
8.3 (0.33) |
3.2 (0.13) |
8.3 (0.33) |
12.1 (0.48) |
181.9 (7.17) |
| Average rainy days | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 39 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 61 | 60 | 62 | 59 | 47 | 40 | 52 | 58 | 56 | 55 | 58 | 63 | 56 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 180.9 | 182.7 | 207.1 | 227.8 | 304.8 | 339.6 | 325.9 | 299.7 | 293.6 | 277.6 | 231.0 | 185.6 | 3,056.3 |
| Source: NOAA (1964-1983) [16] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Herāt | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 24.4 (75.9) |
27.6 (81.7) |
31.0 (87.8) |
37.8 (100.0) |
39.7 (103.5) |
44.6 (112.3) |
50.7 (123.3) |
42.7 (108.9) |
39.3 (102.7) |
37.0 (98.6) |
30.0 (86.0) |
26.5 (79.7) |
50.7 (123.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.1 (48.4) |
11.9 (53.4) |
17.9 (64.2) |
24.0 (75.2) |
29.6 (85.3) |
35.0 (95.0) |
36.7 (98.1) |
35.1 (95.2) |
31.4 (88.5) |
25.0 (77.0) |
17.8 (64.0) |
12.0 (53.6) |
23.8 (74.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.9 (37.2) |
5.5 (41.9) |
10.2 (50.4) |
16.3 (61.3) |
22.1 (71.8) |
27.2 (81.0) |
29.8 (85.6) |
28.0 (82.4) |
22.9 (73.2) |
16.1 (61.0) |
8.8 (47.8) |
4.7 (40.5) |
16.2 (61.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.9 (26.8) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
3.8 (38.8) |
9.1 (48.4) |
13.3 (55.9) |
18.2 (64.8) |
21.2 (70.2) |
19.2 (66.6) |
13.2 (55.8) |
7.4 (45.3) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
8.5 (47.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −26.7 (−16.1) |
−20.5 (−4.9) |
−13.3 (8.1) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
0.8 (33.4) |
9.7 (49.5) |
13.3 (55.9) |
8.4 (47.1) |
1.3 (34.3) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−12.8 (9.0) |
−22.7 (−8.9) |
−26.7 (−16.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 51.6 (2.03) |
44.8 (1.76) |
55.1 (2.17) |
29.2 (1.15) |
9.8 (0.39) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.7 (0.07) |
10.9 (0.43) |
35.8 (1.41) |
238.9 (9.41) |
| Average rainy days | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 40 |
| Average snowy days | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 69 | 62 | 56 | 45 | 34 | 30 | 30 | 34 | 42 | 55 | 67 | 50 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 149.3 | 153.5 | 202.5 | 235.7 | 329.6 | 362.6 | 378.6 | 344.8 | 323.2 | 274.0 | 235.0 | 143.1 | 3,131.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA (1959–1983)[17] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Ogimet[18] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Kandahar (1964–1983) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 25.0 (77.0) |
26.0 (78.8) |
36.5 (97.7) |
37.1 (98.8) |
43.0 (109.4) |
45.0 (113.0) |
46.5 (115.7) |
44.5 (112.1) |
41.0 (105.8) |
37.5 (99.5) |
31.5 (88.7) |
26.0 (78.8) |
46.5 (115.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 12.2 (54.0) |
14.8 (58.6) |
21.6 (70.9) |
28.1 (82.6) |
34.1 (93.4) |
39.1 (102.4) |
40.2 (104.4) |
38.2 (100.8) |
34.0 (93.2) |
27.5 (81.5) |
21.0 (69.8) |
15.4 (59.7) |
27.2 (81.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.1 (41.2) |
7.8 (46.0) |
13.9 (57.0) |
20.2 (68.4) |
25.4 (77.7) |
30.0 (86.0) |
31.9 (89.4) |
29.4 (84.9) |
23.5 (74.3) |
17.5 (63.5) |
11.0 (51.8) |
7.3 (45.1) |
18.6 (65.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.0 (32.0) |
2.4 (36.3) |
7.1 (44.8) |
12.3 (54.1) |
15.8 (60.4) |
19.5 (67.1) |
22.5 (72.5) |
20.0 (68.0) |
13.5 (56.3) |
8.5 (47.3) |
3.3 (37.9) |
1.0 (33.8) |
10.5 (50.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −12.1 (10.2) |
−10.0 (14.0) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
2.0 (35.6) |
2.4 (36.3) |
8.5 (47.3) |
13.5 (56.3) |
9.0 (48.2) |
5.2 (41.4) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
−9.3 (15.3) |
−11.4 (11.5) |
−12.1 (10.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 54.0 (2.13) |
42.0 (1.65) |
41.1 (1.62) |
18.7 (0.74) |
2.2 (0.09) |
0 (0) |
2.3 (0.09) |
1.0 (0.04) |
0 (0) |
2.3 (0.09) |
7.0 (0.28) |
20.0 (0.79) |
190.6 (7.52) |
| Average precipitation days | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 29 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 58 | 59 | 50 | 41 | 30 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 29 | 40 | 52 | 38 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 198.4 | 183.6 | 235.6 | 255.0 | 347.2 | 369.0 | 341.0 | 337.9 | 324.0 | 306.9 | 264.0 | 217.0 | 3,379.6 |
| Source: NOAA (1964–1983)[19] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Zaranj | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 24.1 (75.4) |
30.6 (87.1) |
37.0 (98.6) |
45.0 (113.0) |
51.0 (123.8) |
49.7 (121.5) |
49.3 (120.7) |
50.0 (122.0) |
49.7 (121.5) |
42.0 (107.6) |
36.0 (96.8) |
27.8 (82.0) |
51.0 (123.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 14.3 (57.7) |
18.7 (65.7) |
25.0 (77.0) |
32.6 (90.7) |
37.3 (99.1) |
42.8 (109.0) |
42.5 (108.5) |
41.3 (106.3) |
37.0 (98.6) |
31.2 (88.2) |
23.1 (73.6) |
17.7 (63.9) |
30.3 (86.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.5 (43.7) |
10.0 (50.0) |
15.7 (60.3) |
23.3 (73.9) |
29.1 (84.4) |
33.4 (92.1) |
35.0 (95.0) |
32.3 (90.1) |
27.2 (81.0) |
21.9 (71.4) |
13.1 (55.6) |
8.7 (47.7) |
21.3 (70.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.1 (32.2) |
2.9 (37.2) |
7.7 (45.9) |
14.7 (58.5) |
20.0 (68.0) |
25.2 (77.4) |
27.3 (81.1) |
24.9 (76.8) |
18.5 (65.3) |
12.3 (54.1) |
4.8 (40.6) |
0.7 (33.3) |
13.3 (55.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −13.2 (8.2) |
−8.2 (17.2) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
1.0 (33.8) |
5.0 (41.0) |
16.0 (60.8) |
18.4 (65.1) |
13.2 (55.8) |
3.9 (39.0) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
−7.1 (19.2) |
−8.8 (16.2) |
−13.2 (8.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 19.7 (0.78) |
9.9 (0.39) |
11.2 (0.44) |
2.4 (0.09) |
0.6 (0.02) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.2 (0.05) |
1.4 (0.06) |
5.1 (0.20) |
51.5 (2.03) |
| Average rainy days | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 55 | 50 | 44 | 40 | 35 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 33 | 41 | 49 | 54 | 41 |
| Source: NOAA (1969-1983)[20] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Mazar-i-Sharif | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 24.0 (75.2) |
28.6 (83.5) |
32.4 (90.3) |
37.8 (100.0) |
43.0 (109.4) |
45.6 (114.1) |
48.1 (118.6) |
46.0 (114.8) |
39.5 (103.1) |
37.0 (98.6) |
29.8 (85.6) |
24.4 (75.9) |
48.1 (118.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.0 (46.4) |
10.7 (51.3) |
16.3 (61.3) |
24.3 (75.7) |
31.2 (88.2) |
37.0 (98.6) |
38.9 (102.0) |
36.9 (98.4) |
31.9 (89.4) |
24.7 (76.5) |
16.4 (61.5) |
10.8 (51.4) |
23.9 (75.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.6 (36.7) |
5.1 (41.2) |
10.8 (51.4) |
17.9 (64.2) |
24.5 (76.1) |
29.9 (85.8) |
33.3 (91.9) |
29.9 (85.8) |
23.9 (75.0) |
16.7 (62.1) |
9.1 (48.4) |
5.1 (41.2) |
17.4 (63.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.1 (28.2) |
0.0 (32.0) |
5.1 (41.2) |
11.3 (52.3) |
16.6 (61.9) |
22.5 (72.5) |
25.9 (78.6) |
23.8 (74.8) |
17.1 (62.8) |
9.4 (48.9) |
3.2 (37.8) |
0.0 (32.0) |
11.1 (51.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −22.3 (−8.1) |
−24.0 (−11.2) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
1.0 (33.8) |
11.4 (52.5) |
11.1 (52.0) |
13.7 (56.7) |
2.6 (36.7) |
4.5 (40.1) |
−8.7 (16.3) |
−15.5 (4.1) |
−24.0 (−11.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 28.9 (1.14) |
34.8 (1.37) |
43.8 (1.72) |
28.3 (1.11) |
11.2 (0.44) |
0.2 (0.01) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.00) |
3.9 (0.15) |
13.5 (0.53) |
21.7 (0.85) |
186.4 (7.32) |
| Average rainy days | 4 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 46 |
| Average snowy days | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 79 | 77 | 72 | 64 | 44 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 28 | 41 | 62 | 75 | 52 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 122.2 | 118.4 | 158.1 | 193.8 | 299.9 | 352.9 | 364.4 | 332.7 | 298.2 | 223.2 | 173.6 | 125.5 | 2,762.9 |
| Source: NOAA (1959–1983)[21] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Kunduz | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 21.2 (70.2) |
25.0 (77.0) |
32.8 (91.0) |
38.9 (102.0) |
42.2 (108.0) |
46.2 (115.2) |
45.3 (113.5) |
44.2 (111.6) |
39.2 (102.6) |
39.4 (102.9) |
28.4 (83.1) |
21.6 (70.9) |
46.2 (115.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.3 (43.3) |
9.5 (49.1) |
15.8 (60.4) |
23.0 (73.4) |
29.8 (85.6) |
37.3 (99.1) |
39.0 (102.2) |
36.9 (98.4) |
31.8 (89.2) |
24.5 (76.1) |
16.0 (60.8) |
9.7 (49.5) |
23.3 (73.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.6 (34.9) |
4.4 (39.9) |
10.4 (50.7) |
17.2 (63.0) |
22.9 (73.2) |
29.3 (84.7) |
31.3 (88.3) |
29.2 (84.6) |
23.9 (75.0) |
16.9 (62.4) |
9.5 (49.1) |
4.4 (39.9) |
16.8 (62.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.4 (27.7) |
0.0 (32.0) |
5.7 (42.3) |
11.6 (52.9) |
15.7 (60.3) |
20.9 (69.6) |
23.3 (73.9) |
21.5 (70.7) |
16.3 (61.3) |
10.6 (51.1) |
4.1 (39.4) |
0.0 (32.0) |
10.6 (51.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −22.7 (−8.9) |
−23.1 (−9.6) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
−2.1 (28.2) |
4.2 (39.6) |
12.5 (54.5) |
15.7 (60.3) |
12.6 (54.7) |
3.5 (38.3) |
−2.0 (28.4) |
−9.8 (14.4) |
−20 (−4) |
−23.1 (−9.6) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 44.0 (1.73) |
56.5 (2.22) |
76.7 (3.02) |
54.4 (2.14) |
29.8 (1.17) |
0.1 (0.00) |
1.3 (0.05) |
0.3 (0.01) |
0.1 (0.00) |
7.3 (0.29) |
23.7 (0.93) |
28.4 (1.12) |
322.6 (12.68) |
| Average rainy days | 5 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 57 |
| Average snowy days | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 80 | 75 | 75 | 71 | 54 | 31 | 28 | 29 | 32 | 44 | 63 | 76 | 55 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 114.4 | 114.6 | 158.9 | 201.0 | 276.5 | 332.1 | 340.2 | 315.5 | 289.7 | 221.8 | 169.3 | 118.3 | 2,652.3 |
| Source: NOAA (1958-1983)[22] | |||||||||||||
Rivers, streams and lakes
[edit]
Afghanistan receives snow between November and March, which gradually melts into numerous rivers, streams, canals, lakes, ponds, and springs, but most of the country's fresh water continues to flow into neighboring countries.[23] It loses about two-thirds of its water to neighboring Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.[12]
The nation's drainage system is largely landlocked.
Vegetation
[edit]The characteristic distribution of vegetation on the mountains of Afghanistan is worthy of attention. The great mass of it is confined to the main ranges and their immediate offshoots, whilst on the more distant and terminal prolongations it is almost entirely absent; in fact, these are naked rock and stone. On the Safed Koh alpine range itself and its immediate branches, at a height of 1,800–3,000 m (5,900–9,800 ft) there is abundant growth of large forest trees, among which conifers are the most noble and prominent, such as Cedrus deodara, Abies excelsa, Pinus longifolia, Pinus pinaster, Stone pine (the edible pine, although this species is probably introduced, since it is original to Spain and Portugal) and the larch. There is also the yew, the hazel, juniper, walnut, wild peach and almond. Growing under the shade of these are several varieties of rose, honeysuckle, currant, gooseberry, hawthorn, rhododendron and a luxuriant herbage, among which the ranunculus family is important for frequency and number of genera. The lemon and wild vine are also here met with, but are more common on the northern mountains. The walnut and oak (evergreen, holly-leaved and kermes) descend to the secondary heights, where they become mixed with alder, ash, khinjak, Arbor-vitae, juniper, with species of Astragalus. Here also are Indigoferae rind dwarf laburnum.
In Afghanistan forest cover is around 2% of the total land area, equivalent to 1,208,440 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, which was unchanged from 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 1,208,440 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to be primary forest (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 0% of the forest area was found within protected areas. For the year 2015, 100% of the forest area was reported to be under public ownership. [24] [25]
Down to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) there are wild olive, species of rock-rose, wild privet, acacias and mimosas, barberry and Zizyphus; and in the eastern ramifications of the chain, Nannerops ritchiana (which is applied to a variety of useful purposes), Bignonia or trumpet flower, sissu, Salvadora persica, verbena, acanthus, varieties of Gesnerae.
The lowest terminal ridges, especially towards the west, are, as it has been said, naked in aspect. Their scanty vegetation is almost wholly herbal; shrubs are only occasional; trees almost non-existent. Labiate, composite and umbelliferous plants are most common. Ferns and mosses are almost confined to the higher ranges.
In the low brushwood scattered over portions of the dreary plains of the Kandahar tablelands, it is possible to find leguminous thorny plants of the papilionaceous suborder, such as camel-thorn (Hedysarum alhagi), Astragalus in several varieties, spiny rest-harrow (Ononis spinosa), the fibrous roots of which often serve as a tooth-brush; plants of the sub-order Mimosae, as the sensitive mimosa; a plant of the rue family, called by the natives lipad; the common wormwood; also certain orchids, and several species of Salsola. The rue and wormwood are in general use as domestic medicines—the former for rheumatism and neuralgia; the latter in fever, debility and dyspepsia, as well as for a vermifuge. The lipad, owing to its heavy nauseous odour, is believed to keep off evil spirits. In some places, occupying the sides and hollows of ravines, it is found the Rose Bay, called in Persian khar-zarah, or ass-bane, the wild laburnum and various Indigoferae.
In the last several decades, 90% of forests in Afghanistan have been destroyed and much of the timber has been exported to neighboring Pakistan. As a result, large percent of Afghanistan's land could be subject to soil erosion and desertification. On the positive note, the Karzai administration and international organizations are helping counter this problem by often planting millions of saplings.[26] Afghanistan had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 8.85/10, ranking it 15th globally out of 172 countries.[27]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Afghanistan, CIA World Factbook.
- ^ "Gold and copper discovered in Afghanistan" (PDF). bgs.ac.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ "Uranium Mining Issues: 2005 Review". www.wise-uranium.org. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ Afghanistan's Energy Future and its Potential Implications Archived 2010-06-25 at the Wayback Machine, Eurasianet.org.
- ^ Govt plans to lease out Ainak copper mine[permanent dead link], Pajhwok Afghan News.
- ^ Ellington, Lucien (Fall 2012), "Geographical Facts about Afghanistan", Education About Asia, vol. 17, no. 2, Association for Asian Studies
- ^ Starr, Frederick; Cornell, Svante (18 February 2020). "A new strategy for Central Asia". The Hill. Archived from the original on Aug 9, 2023.
, as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has noted, Afghanistan is itself a Central Asian country.
- ^ Afghanistan. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107619500.
- ^ * "U.S. maps". Pubs.usgs.gov. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- "South Asia: Data, Projects, and Research". Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- Wandrey, Craig J.; Law, Ben E. "Maps showing geology, oil and gas fields and geological provinces of South Asia". U. S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 25 December 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- "University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies: The South Asia Center". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- "Syracruse University: The South Asia Center". 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- "Center for South Asian studies". Archived from the original on 11 December 2007. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ "Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings". UNdata. 26 April 2011. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
- ^ "Country Profile: Afghanistan" (PDF). United States: Library of Congress Country Studies on Afghanistan. August 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 8, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
- ^ a b "Afghanistan and Pakistan's Looming Water Conflict". The Diplomat. December 15, 2018. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
Afghanistan has abundant water resources. It produces 80 billion cubic meters of water a year, pumping 60 billion cubic meters of it to the neighbors — particularly Pakistan.
- ^ "Afghanistan" (PDF). UNDP Climate Change Country Profiles. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2017-12-19.
- ^ Robson, Barbara; Lipson, Juliene; Younos, Farid; Mehdi, Mariam, The Afghans: Their History and Culture (PDF), The Center for Applied Linguistics; The Cultural Orientation Resource Center
- ^ "Kabul Climate Normals 1956–1983". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2013-03-30.
- ^ "Jalal Abad Climate Normals 1964-1983". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
- ^ "Herat Climate Normals 1959-1983". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
- ^ "40938: Herat (Afghanistan) Synop Summary". G. Ballester Vallor. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ "Kandahar Climate Normals 1964–1983". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
- ^ "Zaranj Climate Normals 1969-1983". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 26, 2012.
- ^ "Mazar-i-Sharif Climate Normals 1959-1983". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 25, 2012.
- ^ "Kunduz Climate Normals 1958-1983". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
- ^ "Afghanistan and Iran Strike an Agreement Over Helmand River Water-Sharing". Khaama Press. June 21, 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ^ Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2023.
- ^ "Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, Afghanistan". Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- ^ "Citizens Plant 1.2 Million Trees in Eastern Afghanistan". USAID Afghanistan. April 15, 2009. Archived from the original on March 7, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2012.
- ^ Grantham, H. S.; Duncan, A.; Evans, T. D.; Jones, K. R.; Beyer, H. L.; Schuster, R.; Walston, J.; Ray, J. C.; Robinson, J. G.; Callow, M.; Clements, T.; Costa, H. M.; DeGemmis, A.; Elsen, P. R.; Ervin, J.; Franco, P.; Goldman, E.; Goetz, S.; Hansen, A.; Hofsvang, E.; Jantz, P.; Jupiter, S.; Kang, A.; Langhammer, P.; Laurance, W. F.; Lieberman, S.; Linkie, M.; Malhi, Y.; Maxwell, S.; Mendez, M.; Mittermeier, R.; Murray, N. J.; Possingham, H.; Radachowsky, J.; Saatchi, S.; Samper, C.; Silverman, J.; Shapiro, A.; Strassburg, B.; Stevens, T.; Stokes, E.; Taylor, R.; Tear, T.; Tizard, R.; Venter, O.; Visconti, P.; Wang, S.; Watson, J. E. M. (2020). "Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material". Nature Communications. 11 (1): 5978. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 7723057. PMID 33293507.
Further reading
[edit]- Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. 1997. "Afghanistan: A Country Sturdy".
External links
[edit]
- Topographic map of Afghanistan (1 : 300 000)
- Persia (Iran), Afghanistan and Baluchistan is a map from 1897
- Afghanistan, Beloochistan, etc. is a map from 1893 created by the American Methodist Church
