Afghanistan - Geography & environment
 |
Photo: Chris Johnson/Oxfam |
Afghanistan is a land-locked country located in Central Asia.
It is dominated by mountains that cover two thirds of its surface.
The rest of the landscape is made up of desert and fertile plains.
The country can be divided into three distinct regions - the
Central Highlands, the Northern Plains and the Southwestern Plateau.
The Central Highlands
This is the most mountainous region of Afghanistan. Here can be
found the mountain ranges the Hindu Kush, which sweep from west
to east, and the Hazarajat. It is usually dry and hot in summer
and freezing cold in winter.
 |
Photo: John Fairhurst/Oxfam |
The Southwestern Plateau
Desert covers much of this area making it a very hostile place
to live. The soil is very infertile.
The Northern Plains
The flat plains and foothills make up the northernmost area of
the country. This is the most fertile region and it is here that
most of the food is grown. Crops include corn, rice, barley, wheat,
vegetables, cotton, fruits and nuts.
| 
|
Farmland |
Photo:
Peter Williams/Oxfam |
Before the conflicts of the last 20 years the country produced
enough wheat to feed itself, and was also able to export some foodstuffs
to other countries. A third of all farmland has been destroyed in
the fighting, however, and now Afghanistan needs to be given additional
food to feed its people. For three years the situation has been
made worse by severe drought.
Afghanistan is rich in minerals that include uranium, copper, gold,
iron, and chrome. There are also precious stone deposits as well
as natural gas and petroleum reserves.
Environment
The destruction of natural resources is a big problem in Afghanistan.
Forests have been cut down and floods and avalanches have added
to the destruction. The environment has also been severely damaged
by war over the last twenty years.
Landmines
One legacy of conflict in Afghanistan is the number of landmines
and other weapons still in the country today. This legacy has a
profound effect on the lives of ordinary people who face the risk
of explosion when going about daily tasks such as collecting water
or firewood. Eighty people are killed or maimed each month by landmines.
Introduction
|| History
|| Geography
& Environment
People
& Society || Factfile
|| Oxfam in Afghanistan
|| Other resources
|
