Editing Kabul (section)

==Geography==
{{Further|Geography of Afghanistan}}
[[File:Kabul-Pano By Dani.jpg|thumb|Night scene in Kabul in 2016 looking northeast, with Koh-e 'Aliabad on the left and [[Koh-e Asamai]] on the right]]
[[File:DSC 0049-2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Qargha]] dam and lake]]
[[File:Kabul mountains.jpg|thumb|A view of some of the mountains that surround Kabul]]
Kabul was situated in the eastern part of the country, {{convert|1791|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]] in a narrow valley, wedged between the [[Hindu Kush]] mountains along the [[Kabul River]]. Immediately to the south of the old city are the ancient city walls and the Sher Darwaza mountain, with the Shuhadayi Salihin [[cemetery]] behind it. A bit further east is the ancient [[Bala Hissar, Kabul|Bala Hissar]] fortress with the Kol-e Hasmat Khan lake behind it.

Its location has been described as a "bowl surrounded by mountains".<ref>''Canada in Afghanistan: The War So Far'' by Peter Pigott</ref> Some of the mountains (which are called ''koh'') include: Khair Khana-e Shamali, Khwaja Rawash, Shakhi Baran Tey, Chihil Sutun, Qurugh, Khwaja Razaq and Sher Darwaza. There are also two mountains in between urban areas to the west: [[Koh-e Asamai]] (locally known as the ''Television hill'') and Ali Abad. Hills within the city (which are called ''tapa'') include Bibi Mahro and Maranjan.

The [[Logar River]] flows into Kabul from the south, joining the Kabul River not far from the city centre.

The city covers an area size of {{convert|1023|km2|sqmi|0}}, making it by far the largest in the country. The closest foreign capital cities [[as the crow flies]] are [[Islamabad]], [[Dushanbe]], [[Tashkent]], [[New Delhi]] and [[Bishkek]]. Kabul is roughly [[equidistant]] between [[Istanbul]] (western Asia) and [[Hanoi]] (eastern Asia).

===Climate===
Kabul has a continental, [[cold semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|BSk]]), with precipitation concentrated in the winter (almost exclusively falling as [[snow]]) and spring months. Summers have very low [[humidity]], providing some relief from the heat. Autumns feature warm afternoons and sharply cooler evenings. Winters are very cold by [[South Asia]]n standards, with a subzero January daily average temperature of {{convert|-2.3|°C|1}}, mainly due to the high elevation of the city. Spring is the wettest time of the year. Sunny conditions dominate year-round, and the annual mean temperature is only {{convert|12.1|°C|1}}, much lower than that of Afghanistan's other large cities.

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Kabul (1956–1983)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 18.8
|Feb record high C = 18.4
|Mar record high C = 26.7
|Apr record high C = 29.4
|May record high C = 33.5
|Jun record high C = 37.7
|Jul record high C = 40.5
|Aug record high C = 41.0
|Sep record high C = 35.1
|Oct record high C = 31.6
|Nov record high C = 24.4
|Dec record high C = 20.4
|year record high C = 41.0
|Jan high C = 4.5
|Feb high C = 5.5
|Mar high C = 12.5
|Apr high C = 19.2
|May high C = 24.4
|Jun high C = 30.2
|Jul high C = 32.1
|Aug high C = 32.0
|Sep high C = 28.5
|Oct high C = 22.4
|Nov high C = 15.0
|Dec high C = 8.3
|year high C = 19.5
|Jan mean C = -2.3
|Feb mean C = -0.7
|Mar mean C = 6.3
|Apr mean C = 12.8
|May mean C = 17.3
|Jun mean C = 22.8
|Jul mean C = 25.0
|Aug mean C = 24.1
|Sep mean C = 19.7
|Oct mean C = 13.1
|Nov mean C = 5.9
|Dec mean C = 0.6
|year mean C = 12.1
|Jan low C = −7.1
|Feb low C = −5.7
|Mar low C = 0.7
|Apr low C = 6.0
|May low C = 8.8
|Jun low C = 12.4
|Jul low C = 15.3
|Aug low C = 14.3
|Sep low C = 9.4
|Oct low C = 3.9
|Nov low C = −1.2
|Dec low C = −4.7
|year low C = 4.3
|Jan record low C = -25.5
|Feb record low C = -24.8
|Mar record low C = -12.6
|Apr record low C = -2.1
|May record low C = 0.4
|Jun record low C = 3.1
|Jul record low C = 7.5
|Aug record low C = 6.0
|Sep record low C = 1.0
|Oct record low C = -3.0
|Nov record low C = -9.4
|Dec record low C = -18.9
|year record low C = -25.5
|Jan precipitation mm = 34.3
|Feb precipitation mm = 60.1
|Mar precipitation mm = 67.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 71.9
|May precipitation mm = 23.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 1.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 6.2
|Aug precipitation mm = 1.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 1.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 3.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 18.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 21.6
|year precipitation mm = 312.0
|Jan rain days = 2
|Feb rain days = 3
|Mar rain days = 10
|Apr rain days = 11
|May rain days = 8
|Jun rain days = 1
|Jul rain days = 2
|Aug rain days = 1
|Sep rain days = 1
|Oct rain days = 2
|Nov rain days = 4
|Dec rain days = 3
|year rain days = 48
|Jan snow days = 7
|Feb snow days = 6
|Mar snow days = 3
|Apr snow days = 0
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 0
|Dec snow days = 4
|year snow days = 20
|Jan humidity = 68
|Feb humidity = 70
|Mar humidity = 65
|Apr humidity = 61
|May humidity = 48
|Jun humidity = 36
|Jul humidity = 37
|Aug humidity = 38
|Sep humidity = 39
|Oct humidity = 42
|Nov humidity = 52
|Dec humidity = 63
|year humidity = 52
|Jan sun = 177.2
|Feb sun = 178.6
|Mar sun = 204.5
|Apr sun = 232.5
|May sun = 310.3
|Jun sun = 353.4
|Jul sun = 356.8
|Aug sun = 339.7
|Sep sun = 303.9
|Oct sun = 282.6
|Nov sun = 253.2
|Dec sun = 182.4
|year sun = 3175.1
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name="NOAA">{{cite web|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-II/AH/40948.TXT|title=Kabul Climate Normals 1956–1983|access-date=30 March 2013|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504065917/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-II/AH/40948.TXT|archive-date=2023-05-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=global-summary-of-the-day&stations=40948099999&startDate=1700-01-01&endDate=2023-12-31&dataTypes=MAX,MIN,PRCP|title=Global Surface Summary of the Day - GSOD|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref>
}}

===Environment===
The [[Kabul River]] flows through the heart of the city, dividing the central bazaars. There are several bridges (''pul'') crossing the river, the major ones being Pul-e Shah-Do Shamshira, Pul-e Bagh-e Omomi, Pul-e Khishti, and Pul-e Mahmoud. Due to [[climate change]], since the 21st century, the river runs dry most of the year, only filling up in the wetter winter and spring seasons.<ref>http://kbr.id/english/11-2016/in_kabul__where_the_rivers_run_dry_/wo {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122095656/https://kbr.id/english/11-2016/in_kabul__where_the_rivers_run_dry_/wo |date=22 November 2021 }} 86710.html</ref>

A large [[lake]] and [[wetland]] was located just to the southeast from the old city called ''[[Hashmat Khan Park|Kol-e Hashmat Khan]]''.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Kate|last1=Clark|title=Kabul Duck Alert 2: Pictures of birds and birdwatchers at the Kol-e Hashmat Khan wetland {{!}} Afghanistan Analysts Network|url=https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/kabul-duck-alert-2-pictures-of-birds-and-birdwatchers-at-the-kol-e-hashmat-khan-wetland/|website=www.afghanistan-analysts.org|date=25 April 2016|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-date=3 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703215820/https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/kabul-duck-alert-2-pictures-of-birds-and-birdwatchers-at-the-kol-e-hashmat-khan-wetland/|url-status=live}}</ref> The marsh provides a critical resting place to thousands of birds who fly between the [[Indian subcontinent]] and [[Siberia]]. In 2017 the government declared the lake a [[protected area]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kabul wetland declared new protected area for migrating birds|url=https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/kabul-wetland-declared-new-protected-area-migrating-birds|website=United Nations Environment Programme|access-date=2 October 2019|date=19 June 2017|archive-date=3 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003044953/https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/kabul-wetland-declared-new-protected-area-migrating-birds|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some rare species of birds have been spotted at the lake, such as the [[Eastern imperial eagle]] and the [[Dalmatian pelican]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kabul – Legislation and Policy Advances|url=https://afghanistan.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Kabul.aspx|website=afghanistan.wcs.org|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028105631/https://afghanistan.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Kabul.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Kabul's other large lake is [[Qargha]], located some 9&nbsp;km northwest from the centre. It is a major attraction for locals as well as foreigners.<ref>{{cite news|title=Qargha Lake, a transcendental beauty of nature|url=http://www.afghanistantimes.af/qargha-lake-a-transcendental-beauty-of-nature/|website=Afghanistan Times|access-date=21 November 2019|archive-date=18 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191118184728/http://www.afghanistantimes.af/qargha-lake-a-transcendental-beauty-of-nature/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Air pollution]] is a major problem in the city during the winter season, when many residents burn low-quality fuels.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hamid|first1=Tamim|title=Kabul Faces 'Worst' Air Pollution This Year|url=https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/kabul-faces-%E2%80%98worst%E2%80%99-air-pollution-year|website=tolonews.com|access-date=21 November 2019|archive-date=29 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129023335/https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/kabul-faces-%E2%80%98worst%E2%80%99-air-pollution-year|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Jackson|first1=Allison|title=Kabul chokes on dirty air as temperatures plunge|url=https://phys.org/news/2019-01-kabul-dirty-air-temperatures-plunge.html|website=phys.org|language=en-us|access-date=26 April 2019|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426112458/https://phys.org/news/2019-01-kabul-dirty-air-temperatures-plunge.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Districts===
[[File:Afghanistan Kabul Province Kabul District.png|thumb|Location of Kabul Municipality within Kabul Province]]
The city of Kabul located within [[Kabul District]], one of the 15 districts of [[Kabul Province]]. As the provincial capital, it forms a [[municipality]] (''shārwāli'') which is further divided into 22 [[administrative district]]s called municipal districts or city districts (''nāhia''), which coincide with the official Police Districts (PD).<ref>{{cite web|last1=Foschini|first1=Fabrizio|title=A geographical guide to a metropolis in the making|url=https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kabul-Police-Districts.pdf|website=www.afghanistan-analysts.org|access-date=4 June 2019|archive-date=4 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604121049/https://www.afghanistan-analysts.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kabul-Police-Districts.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The number of city districts increased from 11 to 18 in 2005, and then to 22 by 2010 after the incorporation of Districts 14 and 19–22 which were annexed by Kabul Municipality from surrounding rural districts. The [[city limits]] have thus substantially increased. Due to demarcation disputes with the provincial administration, some of these new districts are more administered by the provincial districts than the municipality.

District 1 contains most of the old city. Downtown Kabul mostly consist of Districts 2, 4 and 10. In addition, Districts 3 and 6 house many commercial and governmental points of interests.<ref name="iwaweb.org">{{cite web|title=Community Scorecard of Kabul Municipality 2016|url=https://iwaweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/KBL-Municipality-CSC-FINAL-REPORT.pdf|website=iwaweb.org|access-date=22 February 2018|archive-date=23 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223050735/https://iwaweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/KBL-Municipality-CSC-FINAL-REPORT.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The city's north and west are the most urbanised, as opposed to the south and east.

The table below show the 22 city districts and their settlements, with information about its land size and usage, accurate as of 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://open_jicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/12068151.pdf|title=Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ministry of Urban Development Affairs (MUDA) Kabul Municipality Dehsabz City Development Authority (DCDA)|access-date=26 November 2019|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712164258/http://open_jicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/12068151.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{City Districts of Kabul}}