Geography
CH#1; The Natural
Topography
___
Notes
Introduction:
Topography is the study and description of the surface features of land. Pakistan can be divided
into six major natural topography areas:
1. Northern and North-western mountains:
a. Karakorams
b. Himalayas
c. Hindu Kush
2. Western Mountains:
a. Waziristan Hills
b. Sulaiman Range
c. Kirthar Range
d. Safed Koh Ranges
3. Balochistan Plateau
4. Potwar Plateau and Salt ranges
5. Indus Plain
6. Desert Areas
a. Kharan Desert
b. Thar Desert
c. Thal Desert
Pakistan is home to 5 of the 14 independent highest peaks of the world. Those are K2(Mount
Godwin-Austen), Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum 1(Hidden Peak), and Gasherbrum 2.
● North and North-western Mountains:
● These mountains are part of the Himalaya, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush ranges.
, ● Relief:
○ Includes Karakoram, Himalayas, and the Hindu Kush.
○ These ranges run from east to west.
○ Their height changes from 6000m to 8475m; south to the north respectively
○ They have deep narrow valleys namely Kaghan, Baltistan, and Chitral. (Kaghan
Valley is in the western Himalayas, Chitral Valley is in the Hindu Kush range, and
Baltistan is within the Karakoram mountain range.)
○ It has snow-capped, sharp, and steep-sided peaks like Nanga Parbat, Tirch Mir,
and K2.(Also some of the highest peaks e.g., Nanga Parbat and K2.)
○ It has Siachen, Baltoro and Batura, which are huge glaciers. (All located in the
Karakoram Range.)
○ It has high passes including Khunjerab (in the Karakoram Range), Shandur, and
Lawarai (in the Hindu Kush Range).
● Drainage:
○ Eastern tributaries include Jhelum, Chenab, River Indus, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
○ Western tributaries include Kabul and Swat.
○ Glacial Meltwater provides a significant source of water for these rivers.
○ Seasonal Variation: Peak flow during the summer due to glacier melt.
● Economy and People:
○ In summers, when the snow peaks melt, the water drains into River Indus and its
tributaries.
○ This drainage helps in the irrigation of the Indus plain.
○ These mountains are a source of valuable minerals, fruits, and timber.
○ There are historic passes that connect Pakistan to Afghanistan and China. (i.e.
Khyber Pass connects PAK to Afghanistan, Bolan Pass; PAK to Afghanistan, and
Khunjerab Pass; border crossing point between PAK and China, it is the highest
border crossing in the world.
○ There is also a natural border between CAS republics and China. ("CAS
Republics" refers to the Central Asian States, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. They were once part of the Soviet
Union but gained independence in 1991. The term likely mentions a natural
border between these Central Asian countries and China, which could be defined
by geographical features like rivers or mountains.)
○ The mountains protect against the cold winds from CAS making the climate
bearable.
○ Agriculture: Dominant economic activity.
○ Crops: Wheat, barley, maize, potatoes.
○ Livestock: Goats, yaks, dairy products, and meat.
CH#1; The Natural
Topography
___
Notes
Introduction:
Topography is the study and description of the surface features of land. Pakistan can be divided
into six major natural topography areas:
1. Northern and North-western mountains:
a. Karakorams
b. Himalayas
c. Hindu Kush
2. Western Mountains:
a. Waziristan Hills
b. Sulaiman Range
c. Kirthar Range
d. Safed Koh Ranges
3. Balochistan Plateau
4. Potwar Plateau and Salt ranges
5. Indus Plain
6. Desert Areas
a. Kharan Desert
b. Thar Desert
c. Thal Desert
Pakistan is home to 5 of the 14 independent highest peaks of the world. Those are K2(Mount
Godwin-Austen), Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum 1(Hidden Peak), and Gasherbrum 2.
● North and North-western Mountains:
● These mountains are part of the Himalaya, Karakoram, and Hindu Kush ranges.
, ● Relief:
○ Includes Karakoram, Himalayas, and the Hindu Kush.
○ These ranges run from east to west.
○ Their height changes from 6000m to 8475m; south to the north respectively
○ They have deep narrow valleys namely Kaghan, Baltistan, and Chitral. (Kaghan
Valley is in the western Himalayas, Chitral Valley is in the Hindu Kush range, and
Baltistan is within the Karakoram mountain range.)
○ It has snow-capped, sharp, and steep-sided peaks like Nanga Parbat, Tirch Mir,
and K2.(Also some of the highest peaks e.g., Nanga Parbat and K2.)
○ It has Siachen, Baltoro and Batura, which are huge glaciers. (All located in the
Karakoram Range.)
○ It has high passes including Khunjerab (in the Karakoram Range), Shandur, and
Lawarai (in the Hindu Kush Range).
● Drainage:
○ Eastern tributaries include Jhelum, Chenab, River Indus, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
○ Western tributaries include Kabul and Swat.
○ Glacial Meltwater provides a significant source of water for these rivers.
○ Seasonal Variation: Peak flow during the summer due to glacier melt.
● Economy and People:
○ In summers, when the snow peaks melt, the water drains into River Indus and its
tributaries.
○ This drainage helps in the irrigation of the Indus plain.
○ These mountains are a source of valuable minerals, fruits, and timber.
○ There are historic passes that connect Pakistan to Afghanistan and China. (i.e.
Khyber Pass connects PAK to Afghanistan, Bolan Pass; PAK to Afghanistan, and
Khunjerab Pass; border crossing point between PAK and China, it is the highest
border crossing in the world.
○ There is also a natural border between CAS republics and China. ("CAS
Republics" refers to the Central Asian States, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. They were once part of the Soviet
Union but gained independence in 1991. The term likely mentions a natural
border between these Central Asian countries and China, which could be defined
by geographical features like rivers or mountains.)
○ The mountains protect against the cold winds from CAS making the climate
bearable.
○ Agriculture: Dominant economic activity.
○ Crops: Wheat, barley, maize, potatoes.
○ Livestock: Goats, yaks, dairy products, and meat.
