Geography

The Natural Topography of Pakistan (Including Drainage)

Topography
 Topography is the study and description of the surface features of land.
 It includes both natural and artificial features.

Topography of Pakistan
There are six major topographic areas in Pakistan.
1. Northern Mountains and North-Western Mountains
2. Western Mountains
3. Baluchistan Plateau
4. Potwar Plateau and Salt Range
5. Indus Plain
6. Desert Area

Northern Mountains and North-Western Mountains

There are three mountains ranges i.e.: Karakoram Range, Himalayas (Siwalik’s, The outer
Himalayas, and Central Himalayas), and Hindu Kush.
1. Karakoram Range
 Karakoram means Black gravel.
 It is said to be the mass of ice and rocks extended from Hunza to Shyok river
(400km).
 Pakistan has western range of Karakoram.
 The characteristics of these mountains are sharp peaks, deep, narrow valleys with an
average height of six thousand meters.
 K2 (height: 8611 meters) is located here (second largest mountain in the world.
 Precipitation – snow (Reason: High Altitude)
 The upper region contains glaciers and because of the extreme chilly weather, the
population density is low.
 The nomadic lifestyle is found there. (Nomadic: way of life of peoples who do not
live continually in the same place but move cyclically or periodically.)
 Agriculture: plentiful water is present, Main Crops (Apples, Barleys, Millet) and
cattle breading is common.
2. Himalayas
 They are present to the south of Karakoram range.
 Average altitude: 4000 meters and run from East to West – 2500 km.
 It comprises of Siwalik’s (situated near attock; low altitude: 600-1200 meters), The
lesser and lower Himalayas (situated near Pir Panjal Range; medium altitude: 1800 –
4500 meters) and the Central Himalayas (in between Pir Panjal and Karakoram,
situated near Kashmir).
 Siwalik’s and Lower Himalayas have popular hill stations including Muree, Nathia
Gali and Ghora hill station.
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 Characteristics: Steep, snow-capped peaks, huge glaciers, deep erosion, and
vegetation rich valleys
 Nanga Parbat - Highest Peak of this range (8126 meters)
3. Hindu Kush
 Average Altitude – five thousand meters
 Situated where the borders of Afghanistan and China border meet Pakistan’s border
(North and Northwest Borders)
 Tirich Mir range resembles Karakoram because of height and glaciers (direction-
north to south, Height-7690 meters).
 Swat River Valley is the typical drainage of Hindu Kush. This river is fast flowing,
steep and high.
 List of historical military invaders who passes across the Hindu Kush and till date
they are important, they are:
o Alexander the Great
o Mahmud of Ghazni
o The Ghauri’s
o Tamerlane
o The Mughal King “Babar”
 Hindu Kush Passes
Passes Location connected
Shandur Pass Gilgit – Chitral
Shangla Pass Swat Valley - Upper Part of the Indus Plain
Lawari Pass Chital – Sawat Valley / the valley of Peshawar
 Forests are found in the areas of (extreme south-east)
o Sawat
o Kohistan
o Panjkora Vally
o Dir District
o Sawat, Chitral and Dir have terraced fields where rice is cultivated.
Mountain Valleys
Karakoram Himalayas Hindu Kush
Gilgit Muree and Gallies Swat
Hunza Naran Kaghan Chitral
Baltistan Dir

Importance of Northern Mountains and North-Western Mountains

 Glaciers melt in summer which helps in irrigate vast Indus plains.
 Historical passes help Pakistan connecting China and Afghanistan for economic
purpose for example trade.
 Mountain Peaks helps in protecting Pakistan from the cold winds coming from
Central Asia because of which the temperature of Indus plain remain above freezing
point and the climate remain tolerable.
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 These mountains contain woods and minerals that are quite valuable that provide raw
material to different factories.
 Scenic beauty made it one of the tourist attractions and source of income for the
locals.
People and Economy in the Northern Mountains
 The region boasts stunning natural beauty, with iconic peaks like K2 and Nanga
Parbat.
 Terrace farming is common, with crops like barley, wheat, maize, and fruits grown.
 Livestock farming (yaks, sheep, goats, cattle) is crucial for meat, dairy, and
transportation.
 Exquisite handicrafts like handwoven rugs and gemstone jewelry are produced
locally.
 Trade with China and Afghanistan is facilitated by the Karakoram Highway.
 Education and healthcare access are limited in some areas.
 Seasonal road closures due to heavy snowfall can disrupt transportation.
 Climate change poses threats, including water scarcity from melting glaciers.
 The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has economic significance for the
region.
Environmental Issues
 Melting glaciers and water scarcity threaten the region's water resources.
 Deforestation and land degradation harm ecosystems and agriculture.
 Poor waste management leads to litter and pollution.
 Increased traffic causes air pollution.
 Habitat destruction endangers biodiversity.
 Natural disasters like avalanches and land sliding pose risks.
 Infrastructure development should be environmentally responsible.
Drainage Feature
 Natural drainage is the runoff of water in rivers and streams.
 The river Indus and its tributaries dominate the Northern Mountains' drainage.
 The Indus starts at Manasarovar Lake, flows through the Hindu Kush, and is joined by
the Kabul and Swat rivers.
 Glaciers from the Karakoram and Hindu Kush feed the Indus.
 Eastern tributaries (Ravi, Jhelum, Chenab, Sutlej, Beas) from the Himalayas join the
Indus after passing through Kashmir.
 Crossing high-altitude mountain ranges results in features like gorges, waterfalls,
rapids, and streams due to erosion and snowmelt.

Gorges Waterfalls Rapids Stream and Springs

A narrow valley A river or other body Areas of shallow, The flow of water
between hills or of water's steep fall fast-flowing water in after snow melts
mountains, typically over a rocky ledge a stream. down from the
with steep rocky into a plunge pool mountains in the
walls and a stream below. form of streams out
running through it. of valley side.
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Western Mountains
It consists of parallel ranges not higher than northern mountains. Following are the mountain
ranges:
 Safed Koh Ranges (4712 m)
 Waziristan Hills (3513 m)
 Sulaiman Range (3383 m)
Kirthar Range (2174 m)

1. Safed Koh Ranges

 Direction = South of Kabul River (east-west)
 Safed Koh = White Mountains (often covered with snow)
 Kurram Valley = provides route into Afghanistan (flow to the south)
 Kohat Valley = located at the end of Khurram Pass (Dotted with Spring and number
of limestone ridges), Highly irrigated valley, Crops: Wheat, Rice, and Sugarcane
 The Vale of Peshawar (Drained by Kabul and Swat Rivers) is a fertile alluvial plain,
irrigated by canals from Warsak Dam and Kabul River.
 Alluvial Plain = a flat landform created by the deposition of residue over an extended
period by one or more rivers coming from highland regions, from which alluvial soil
forms.

2. Waziristan Hills
 Located = Between Kurram Valley and Gomal River (Present in mineral rich zone)
 These hills form a wall between Pakistan and Afghanistan like Safed Koh
 Bannu Valley = Located East Waziristan hills near Tochi pass and Dera Ismail Khan.
The military center present near Gomal Pass, drained by streams and channels contain
clay and boulders.
 Source of Irrigation = Kurram Dam

3. Sulaiman and Kirthar Ranges

 Location = West of River Indus (average height 1500 m)
 Takht-i- Sulaiman is the highest peak of this range (3383 m)
 Main Rocks = Limestone and Sandstone
 Meets with Kirthar range and Pab range in south.

Lifestyle in Western Mountains

 Land does not support farming. Canal irrigation is also not possible because of terrain
and rugged landscape.
 Limited transportation facilities, only a few urban centers Peshawar and Kohat
connected by rail and airways.
 Higher cost of supply leads to lower facilities (water, transport, education,
communication).
 Adversely affect the rights of inhabitants, while nomadic lifestyle is common.
 Population Density = low
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 Minerals and resources are still undiscovered in these mountains due to lack of
facilities.
Origin and Formation of Fold Mountains
Fold mountains, such as those found in Pakistan, originate from the tectonic forces at
convergent plate boundaries, where plates collide. Here is a concise explanation:
1. Plate Tectonic Theory: Earth's lithosphere is divided into plates. At convergent plate
boundaries, plates move toward each other.
2. Convergent Boundaries: Fold mountains form at these boundaries through:
 Oceanic-Continental Convergence: Oceanic plates dive under continental plates,
causing folding and forming mountains, like the Himalayas in northern Pakistan.
 Continental-Continental Convergence: Two continental plates collide, leading to
folding and the creation of high mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas and
Karakoram Range.
 Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence: Subduction of one oceanic plate beneath the other
leads to volcanic islands, but not fold mountains.
3. Folding and Uplift: Compression at convergent boundaries causes rocks to fold over
millions of years, resulting in the formation of mountain ranges.
In the case of Pakistan's topography, the country is situated at the convergence of the
Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. This tectonic collision has been responsible for the
formation of some of the world's highest and most significant mountain ranges:
 The Himalayas: The northern part of Pakistan is dominated by the Himalayan
Mountain range. This range is the result of the ongoing collision between the
Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. The Himalayas include peaks like K2 (the
second-highest mountain in the world) and many others.
 Karakoram Range: The Karakoram Range is a subrange of the Himalayas and
extends into Pakistan. It is known for its stunning peaks, including K2, and is
formed because of the Indian-Eurasian Plate collision.
 Hindu Kush Mountains: Located in the northwestern part of Pakistan, the Hindu
Kush mountains are also a consequence of the same tectonic collision.