Countries

The Islamic State of Afghanistan is bounded by Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan on the north, China on the far north-east, Pakistan on the east and south, and Iran on the west. It covers an area of 652 090 km². Its maximum length from east to west is about 1 200 km; from north to south about 1 000 km. The north-western, western, and southern border areas are primarily deserts. The centre of the country is dominated by the massive, glacier-covered peaks of the Hindu Kush, a western extension of the Himalayas. The Amu Darya and Panj Rivers form the northern border.

Much of the land is mountainous, with about one-half over 2 000 m in elevation, raising to a maximum elevation of 7 485 m. The Hindu Kush range extends across the country in a north-east to south-west direction and other mountain ranges radiate from it. Some of these include the Pamirs in the upper north-east, the Badakhshân Ranges in the north-east, the Paropamisus Range in the north, and the Safed Koh Range, which forms part of the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Lowlands are found in the south and west.

Afghanistan has clearly defined seasons with hot summers and cold winters. Temperatures vary greatly during the day, and can range from freezing conditions at dawn to the upper 30°s C by afternoon. Most of the precipitation falls between the months of October and April, but in the mountains and a few of the eastern valleys, monsoons may bring moisture in the summer. The average annual precipitation ranges from 50 mm in desert areas to over 1 000 mm in the mountains. Temperatures in the northern plains average about 3° C in January and approximately 32° C in July. The average annual precipitation in the region totals about 180 mm. The central highlands have an average temperature of about -4° C in January and about 24° C in July. The region receives about 380 mm of precipitation yearly. Temperatures in the lowlands average about 2° C in January and about 29° C in July.

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.