Afghanistan Geography
Afghanistan Geography: A summary of information about Afghanistan Geography, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
Afghanistan: Geography
Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Geographic coordinates
33 00 N, 65 00 E
Map references
Asia
Area
total: 652,000 sq km land: 652,000 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries
total: 5,529 km border countries: China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Terrain
mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m
Natural resources
natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
Land use
arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 3% other: 39% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land
30,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding
Environment - current issues
soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification
Environment - international agreements
party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note
landlocked
