Editing Geography of Afghanistan

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{{Country geography
|name = Afghanistan
|map = Afghan topo en.jpg
|map size = 250
|map_alt = Topography of Afghanistan
|image caption = Topograph of Afghanistan
|continent = [[Asia]]
|region = [[Central Asia]] / [[South Asia]]
|coordinates = {{coord|33|00|N|65|00|E|type:country_region:AF}}
|area ranking = 40th
|km area = 652,864|
|km coastline = 0
|borders = [[Pakistan]] {{convert|2670|km|abbr=on}}, <br /> [[Tajikistan]] {{convert|1357|km|abbr=on}}, <br /> [[Iran]] {{convert|921|km|abbr=on}}, <br /> [[Turkmenistan]] {{convert|804|km|abbr=on}}, <br /> [[Uzbekistan]] {{convert|144|km|abbr=on}}, <br /> [[China]] {{convert|91|km|abbr=on}}
|highest point = [[Noshaq]], {{convert|7492|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|lowest point = [[Amu Darya]] at [[Khamyab District|Khamyab]], {{convert|258|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|longest river = [[Helmand River]]
|largest lake = [[Kamal Khan Dam]]<br />[[Kajaki Dam]]<br />[[Dahla Dam]]<br />[[Naghlu Dam]]<br />[[Band-e Amir]]<br />[[Qargha Reservoir|Qargha]]
|climate = [[Arid]] to [[semiarid]]; cold winters and hot summers
|terrain = mostly low plateau with deserts, rangelands and a fertile plain in the southeast
|natural resources =  [[natural gas]], [[petroleum]], [[coal]], [[copper]], [[chromite]], [[talc]], [[barite]]s, [[sulfur]], [[lead]], [[zinc]], [[iron ore]], [[salt]], [[precious stone|precious]] and [[semiprecious stone]]<ref name="CIA">[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/afghanistan/ ''Afghanistan''], CIA World Factbook.</ref><ref name="AfghanMinerals">{{cite web|url=http://www.bgs.ac.uk/AfghanMinerals/docs/Gold_A4.pdf#search='gold%20and%20copper%20discovered%20in%20afghanistan'|title=''Gold and copper discovered in Afghanistan''|website=bgs.ac.uk|access-date=5 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726155518/http://www.bgs.ac.uk/AfghanMinerals/docs/Gold_A4.pdf#search='gold%20and%20copper%20discovered%20in%20afghanistan'|archive-date=26 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="w-u">{{cite web|url=http://www.wise-uranium.org/uissr05.html#NEWDISC|title=Uranium Mining Issues: 2005 Review|website=www.wise-uranium.org|access-date=5 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="Eurasianet">[http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav090306.shtml ''Afghanistan's Energy Future and its Potential Implications''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625222652/http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav090306.shtml |date=2010-06-25 }}, Eurasianet.org.</ref><ref name="Pajhwok">[http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2006/11/14/govt-plans-lease-out-ainak-copper-mine ''Govt plans to lease out Ainak copper mine'']{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Pajhwok Afghan News.</ref>
|natural hazards = earthquakes, flooding, avalanches
|environmental issues = limited [[fresh water]], [[soil retrogression and degradation|soil degradation]], [[overgrazing]], [[deforestation]], [[desertification]], [[air pollution]], [[water pollution]]
}}

[[Afghanistan]] is a [[Landlocked country|landlocked]] mountainous country located on the [[Iranian Plateau]],<ref>{{Citation |last=Ellington |first=Lucien |title=Geographical Facts about Afghanistan |date=Fall 2012 |url=https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/geographical-facts-about-afghanistan/ |work=Education About Asia |volume=17 |issue=2 |publisher=Association for Asian Studies |access-date=2022-11-28 |archive-date=2023-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609010056/https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/geographical-facts-about-afghanistan/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> at the crossroads of [[Central Asia]]<ref>{{cite news |first1=Frederick |last1=Starr |first2=Svante |last2=Cornell |title=A new strategy for Central Asia |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/international/483511-a-new-strategy-for-central-asia |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=18 February 2020 |quote=, as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has noted, Afghanistan is itself a Central Asian country. |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230809232026/https://thehill.com/opinion/international/483511-a-new-strategy-for-central-asia/ |archive-date= Aug 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Afghanistan|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=9781107619500 |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/afghanistan }}</ref> and [[South Asia]].<ref name="South Asia">* {{cite web |url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/ofr-97-470/OF97-470C/asiaGmap.html |title=U.S. maps |publisher=Pubs.usgs.gov |access-date=19 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225134851/http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/ofr-97-470/OF97-470C/asiaGmap.html |archive-date=25 December 2013 }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar |title=South Asia: Data, Projects, and Research |access-date=2 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301035209/http://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar |archive-date=1 March 2015 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite web |url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/ofr-97-470/OF97-470C/asiaGmap.html |title=Maps showing geology, oil and gas fields and geological provinces of South Asia |first1= Craig J. |last1=Wandrey |first2=Ben E. |last2=Law |website= U. S. Geological Survey |access-date=2 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225134851/http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/ofr-97-470/OF97-470C/asiaGmap.html |archive-date=25 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |url=http://jsis.washington.edu/advise/catalog/soasia-b.html |title=University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies: The South Asia Center |access-date=2 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100846/http://jsis.washington.edu/advise/catalog/soasia-b.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/moynihan/programs/sac/ |title=Syracruse University: The South Asia Center |date=26 March 2013 |access-date=2 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326065054/http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/moynihan/programs/sac/ |archive-date=26 March 2015 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ii.umich.edu/csas |title=Center for South Asian studies |access-date=2 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211204817/http://www.ii.umich.edu/csas/ |archive-date=11 December 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="UNdata">{{cite web |url=http://millenniumindicators.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#asia |title=Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings |publisher=[[UNdata]] | date=26 April 2011 |access-date=13 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713041240/http://millenniumindicators.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm |archive-date=13 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The country is the [[List of countries and dependencies by area|40th]] largest in the world in size. [[Kabul]] is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan, located in the [[Kabul Province]]. With a location at the intersection of major trade routes, Afghanistan has attracted a succession of invaders since the sixth century BC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Afghanistan.pdf |title=Country Profile: Afghanistan |access-date=February 11, 2012 |publisher=[[Library of Congress Country Studies]] on Afghanistan |location=United States |date=August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408085103/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Afghanistan.pdf |archive-date=April 8, 2014 }}</ref>

Afghanistan contains most of the [[Hindu Kush]]. There are a number of major rivers in the country, including [[Amu Darya]], [[Arghandab River|Arghandab]], [[Farah River|Farah]], [[Hari (Afghanistan)|Hari]], [[Helmand River|Helmand]], [[Kabul River|Kabul]], [[Kokcha River|Kokcha]], and [[Kunar River|Kunar]]. The country also possesses many smaller [[List of rivers of Afghanistan|rivers]] as well as [[stream]]s, [[canal]]s, [[list of dams and reservoirs in Afghanistan|lake]]s, [[pond]]s, and [[spring (hydrology)|springs]]. Most of its [[fresh water]] historically flowed into neighboring countries.<ref name="Afghanistan and Pakistan's Looming Water Conflict"/>

==Area and boundaries==
;Area:
:*total: {{Convert|652,864|km2|abbr=on}}
:**''country rank in the world:'' 40th
:*land: {{Convert|652,230|km2|abbr=on}}
:*water: {{Convert|630|km2|abbr=on}}

;Area — comparative:
:* Australia comparative: approximately {{sfrac|2|3}} the size of [[South Australia]]
:* Canada comparative: approximately the size of [[Saskatchewan]]
:* United Kingdom comparative: approximately {{sfrac|2|2|3}} times the size of the United Kingdom
:* United States comparative: slightly more than three times the size of [[Idaho]]
:* [[European Union|EU]] comparative: slightly larger than [[France]]

;Land boundaries:
:*total: {{Convert|3,736|km|abbr=on}}
:**border countries: [[Pakistan]] {{convert|2670|km|abbr=on}}, [[Tajikistan]] {{convert|1357|km|abbr=on}}, [[Iran]] {{convert|921|km|abbr=on}}, [[Turkmenistan]] {{convert|804|km|abbr=on}},  [[Uzbekistan]] {{convert|144|km|abbr=on}}, [[China]] {{convert|91|km|abbr=on}}

;Coastline:
:*0&nbsp;km

;Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

== Regional classification ==
{{See also|South Asia#Northwestern boundary (Afghanistan and Pakistan)}}{{Multiple images
| image1            = South Asia (orthographic projection) without national boundaries, with ambiguities indicated.svg
| footer            = Afghanistan can be described as South Asian (top), Central Asian (middle), or part of the Greater Middle East (bottom).
| image2            = Central Asia definitions (orthographic).png
| image3            = Greater Middle East (orthographic projection).svg
| perrow            = 1
}}
[[Afghanistan]] is sometimes classified as part of [[northwestern South Asia]], though this remains a subject of debate and controversy due to its historical, geographical, ethnic, and cultural ties to [[Central Asia]] and the [[Middle East]], in addition to its connections to South Asia.<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal |last=Khetran |first=Mir Sherbaz |date=2016 |title=Economic Connectivity: Pakistan, China, West Asia and Central Asia |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/48535974 |journal=Strategic Studies |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=61–76 |issn=1029-0990 |jstor=48535974}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |title=The Complex Geopolitical Fabric Of Pakistan, Iran, And Afghanistan: A Tripartite Nexus In Asia {{!}} ShunCulture |url=https://shunculture.com/article/are-pakistan-iran-and-afghanistan-asia |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=shunculture.com}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Admin |date=2020-05-05 |title=Cultural Integration and Regional Trade Prospects: A Case Study of Pakistan and Central Asia |url=https://pakistanintheworld.pk/live/cultural-integration-and-regional-trade-prospects-a-case-study-of-pakistan-and-central-asia/ |access-date=2025-01-13 |language=en-US}}</ref> Many in Afghanistan consider their country to be an amalgamation of [[North Indian culture|South Asian]], [[Turco-Persian tradition|Central Asian]], and [[Greater Iran|Middle Eastern]] cultures, and view their strict classification as solely South Asian as a denial of their Central Asian and Middle Eastern heritage. Moreover, such rigid classifications are often perceived as sources of ethnic tensions between communities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-14 |title=Afghanistan's Necessary Shift in Ethnic Narratives: From Dominance to Dialogue {{!}} Wilson Center |url=https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/afghanistans-necessary-shift-ethnic-narratives-dominance-dialogue |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=www.wilsoncenter.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Irgengioro |first=John |date=2018-12-01 |title=China's National Identity and the Root Causes of China's Ethnic Tensions |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12140-018-9297-2 |journal=East Asia |language=en |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=317–346 |doi=10.1007/s12140-018-9297-2 |issn=1874-6284}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=Federal Solutions to Ethnic Problems: Accommodating Diversity |url=https://www.routledge.com/Federal-Solutions-to-Ethnic-Problems-Accommodating-Diversity/Anderson/p/book/9781138108554?srsltid=AfmBOoqjdpSTN0qQaQ1FcBa_tSYD0ZCjtKX5wPICqbUsAS9YL5nsnt1f |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Routledge & CRC Press |language=en}}</ref>

Afghanistan has many historical connections to Central Asia and the Middle East. It was part of multiple Central Asian and Middle Eastern cultural and imperial spheres, such as the [[Achaemenid Empire|Persian Empire]], [[Caliphate|Arab Caliphates]], [[Durrani Empire]], and various [[Ghaznavids|Turko-Persian Dynasties]]. It is also a [[Muslim world|Muslim-majority state]], similar to the nations of Central Asia and the Middle East (with the exception of [[Israel]]). It is part of the [[Greater Middle East]]—a geopolitical term introduced during the [[George W. Bush]] administration—encompassing not only the [[Middle East|core Middle Eastern states]] but also regions with historical, cultural, geopolitical, and geographical links to the Middle East, such as [[Morocco]], [[Libya]], [[Algeria]], Pakistan, and Afghanistan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perthes |first=Volker |title=America's 'Greater Middle East' and Europe |url=https://www.swp-berlin.org/en/publication/transatlantic-dialogue-on-americas-greater-middle-east |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) |language=en}}</ref> Additionally, it belongs to the socio-cultural sphere of [[Greater Iran]] as well as [[Greater Central Asia]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Menon |first=Rajan |date=2003-01-01 |title=The New Great Game in Central Asia |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00396338.2003.9688581 |journal=Survival: Global Politics and Strategy |volume=45 |issue=2 |pages=187–204 |doi=10.1080/00396338.2003.9688581 |issn=0039-6338 |via=Taylor & Francis}}</ref> further underscoring its historical and civilizational connections to Persianate traditions of Central Asia and the Middle East. Recognizing these historical and cultural connections, [[UNESCO]] in 1978 defined Central Asia to include both Afghanistan and Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000148165 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=unesdoc.unesco.org}}</ref>

Further to the effect of Afghanistan having connections to Central Asia and the Middle East is its membership in organizations that represent these regions. For example, it is a member of [[Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program|Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program]], and the [[Economic Cooperation Organization]] (ECO), which includes Iran, [[Turkey]], Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Central Asian republics.

Recently, the classification of Afghanistan within South Asia has come under additional scrutiny due to the rise of [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] movements in India<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anil |first=Pratinav |date=2024-08-09 |title=The New India by Rahul Bhatia review — how Hindu nationalism is eating India |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/new-india-unmaking-worlds-largest-democracy-rahul-bhatia-book-review-fshtrnd59?utm_source=chatgpt.com&region=global |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Reader |first=The MIT Press |date=2022-02-28 |title=The Rise of Hindu Nationalism |url=https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-rise-of-hindu-nationalism/ |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=The MIT Press Reader |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Anand |first1=Kusha |last2=Lall |first2=Marie |date=2022-01-01 |title=The debate between secularism and Hindu nationalism – how India's textbooks have become the government's medium for political communication |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14736489.2021.2018203 |journal=India Review |volume=21 |pages=77–107 |doi=10.1080/14736489.2021.2018203 |issn=1473-6489}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-05 |title=Modi loses ground in parliament, but his Hindu nationalist policies are here to stay |url=https://apnews.com/article/india-modi-hindu-nationalist-policies-433558be67e00c125805167cf1d82817 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> that promote the idea of [[Akhand Bharat]]—a vision advocating for the annexation of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other neighboring regions into India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-28 |title=Akhand Bharat and India's Civilizational Claims in South Asia |url=https://casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/udayandas |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=Center for the Advanced Study of India (CASI) |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-08 |title=Akhand Bharat Idea, a Menace to India and Neighbourhood {{!}} NewsClick |url=https://www.newsclick.in/akhand-bharat-idea-menace-india-and-neighbourhood |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004131523/https://www.newsclick.in/akhand-bharat-idea-menace-india-and-neighbourhood |archive-date=2023-10-04 |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=NewsClick |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dash |first=Nivedita |date=2023-09-07 |title=What is 'Akhand Bharat' and which countries are part of it? Know its significance and origin |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/explainers/what-is-akhand-bharat-and-which-countries-are-part-of-it-know-its-significance-and-origin-2023-09-07-891249 |access-date=2025-01-14 |website=www.indiatvnews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Midha |first=Nachiket |date=2023-05-02 |title="From Attock to Cuttack and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari:" Understanding Akhand Bharat in terms of Ontological Security |url=https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/cja/article/view/11113 |journal=The Columbia Journal of Asia |language=en |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=15–24 |doi=10.52214/cja.v2i1.11113 |issn=2832-8558 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Afghans argue that an exclusive classification of their countries as South Asian could be misinterpreted as an implicit validation of such [[Expansionism|expansionist ideologies]], threatening the national and cultural identity of their homeland. As a result, they contend thatAfghanistan's connections to Central Asia and the Middle East must be acknowledged and emphasized to counter any expansionist narratives that challenge the country's sovereignty.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

==Mountain systems==
{{See also|Valleys of Afghanistan}}{{Unsourced section|date=October 2023}}[[File:Black Hawk flying over a valley in Bamyan.jpg|thumb|Snow-covered [[Koh-i-Baba]] mountains in [[Bamyan Province]]]]
The [[Hindu Kush]] mountain range reaches a height of {{convert|7492|m|ft|abbr=on}} at [[Noshaq]], Afghanistan's highest peak. Of the ranges extending southwestward from the Hindu Kush, the Foladi peak (''Shah Foladi'') of the Baba mountain range (''[[Koh-i-Baba]]'') reaches the greatest height: {{convert|5142|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The [[Safed Koh]] range, which includes the [[Tora Bora]] area, dominates the border area southeast of [[Kabul]].
[[File:Mountains in Afghanistan.JPG|left|thumb|Snow-covered [[Hindu Kush]] mountains in Afghanistan]]
[[File:Landscape in Paktia Province.jpg|thumb|Snow-covered mountains in [[Paktia Province]]]]

Important passes include the [[Unai Pass]] across the Safed Koh, the [[Kushan Pass|Kushan]] and [[Salang Pass|Salang]] Passes through the Hindu Kush, and the [[Khyber Pass]] that connects Afghanistan with Pakistan. The summit of the Khyber Pass at {{convert|1070|m|ft|abbr=on}} at [[Landi Kotal]], Pakistan is 5&nbsp;km (3&nbsp;mi) east of the border town of [[Torkham border crossing|Torkham]]. Other key passages through the mountainous Pakistan border include two from Paktika Province into Pakistan's [[Waziristan]] region: one at [[Angoor Ada]], and one further south at the [[Gumal River]] crossing, plus the [[Charkai River]] passage south of [[Khost]], Afghanistan, at Pakistan's [[Ghulam Khan]] village into [[North Waziristan]]. The busy Pak-Afghan border crossing at Wesh, Afghanistan is in a flat and dry area, though this route involves Pakistan's [[Khojak Pass]] at {{convert|2707|m|ft|abbr=on}} just {{convert|14|km|0|abbr=on}} from the border. The border connects [[Kandahar]] and [[Spin Boldak]] in Afghanistan with [[Quetta]] in Pakistan.

The [[Wakhan Corridor]] in the northeast lies eastward of the province of [[Panjshir Province|Panjshir]], between the Hindu Kush and the [[Pamir Mountains]], which leads to the [[Wakhjir Pass]] into [[Xinjiang]] in [[China]]. In Kabul, and over all the northern part of the country to the descent at [[Gandamak]], winter is rigorous, especially so on the high Arachosian plateau. 

Although [[Herat]] is approximately {{convert|240|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} lower than Kandahar, the summer climate there is more temperate along with the yearly climate. From May to September, the wind blows from the northwest with great force, and this extends across the country to Kandahar. The winter is mild; snow melts as it falls, and even on the mountains does not lie long. Three years out of four at Herat it does not freeze hard enough for the people to store ice. Yet, it was not very far from Herat, in Rafir Kala, in 1750, where Ahmad Shah's army, retreating from Persia, is said to have lost 18,000 men from cold in a single night. In the northern Herat districts records of the coldest month (February) show the mean minimum as {{convert|-8|°C|°F|abbr=on}} and the maximum as {{convert|3|°C|°F|abbr=on}}. The eastern reaches of the Hari River, including the rapids, are frozen hard in the winter, and people travel on it as on a road.

==Climate==
{{See also|Climate change in Afghanistan}}
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map v2 AFG 1991–2020.svg|thumb|369x369px|Köppen–Geiger climate classification map at 1-km resolution for Afghanistan 1991–2020]]
Rainfall in Afghanistan is very scarce, and mainly only affects the northern highlands, arriving in March and April. Rainfall in the more arid lowlands is rare, and can be very unpredictable.<ref>{{cite web |title=Afghanistan |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc226769/m2/1/high_res_d/Afghanistan.hires.report.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006040624/http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc226769/m2/1/high_res_d/Afghanistan.hires.report.pdf |archive-date=2016-10-06 |access-date=2017-12-19 |website=UNDP Climate Change Country Profiles}}</ref>  Marked characteristics are the great differences of summer and winter temperature and of day and night temperature, as well as the extent to which change of climate can be attained by slight change of place. The Afghan climate is a dry one. The sun shines for three-fourths of the year, and the nights are clearer than the days.[[File:Wakhan, Badakhshan.jpg|left|thumb|The [[Wakhan District]] of [[Badakhshan Province]], which connects Afghanistan with neighboring [[Tajikistan]] in the north, [[China]] in the east and [[Pakistan]] in the south.]]Taking the highlands of the country as a whole, there is no great difference between the mean temperature of Afghanistan and that of the lower [[Himalaya]]. However, a remarkable feature of the Afghan climate is its extreme temperature range within limited periods. The smallest daily range in the north is when the weather is cold; the greatest is when it is hot. For seven months of the year (from May to November) this range exceeds 17&nbsp;°C (31&nbsp;°F) daily. Waves of intense cold occur, lasting for several days, and one may have to endure temperatures of {{convert|-24|°C|°F|0}}, rising to a maximum of {{convert|-8|°C|°F|0}}. At Ghazni the snow has been known to stay long beyond the vernal equinox; the temperatures sink as low as {{convert|-25|°C|°F|0}}. Oral tradition tells of the destruction of the entire population of Ghazni by snowstorms on more than one occasion.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}} On the other hand, the summer temperature is exceedingly high, especially in the Oxus regions, where a shade maximum of {{convert|45|-|50|C|F|0}} is not uncommon.

The summer heat is strong in the [[Sistan Basin]], [[Jalalabad]] and [[Afghan Turkestan|Turkestan]]. The [[simoom]] wind occurs in Kandahar province during the summer. The hot season is rendered more intense by frequent dust storms and strong winds; whilst the bare rocky ridges that traverse the country, absorbing heat by day and radiating it by night, render the summer nights most oppressive. In Kabul the heat is tempered occasionally by cool breezes from the [[Hindu Kush]], and the nights are usually cool. In Kandahar snow seldom falls on the plains or lower hills; when it does, it melts at once.

The combination of hot summers and bitterly cold winters has been noted comparable to the U.S. state of [[Wyoming]].<ref>{{Citation |last1=Robson |first1=Barbara |title=The Afghans: Their History and Culture |url=http://www.culturalorientation.net/content/download/2137/12309/version/1/file/The+Afghans+Culture+Profile.pdf |publisher=The Center for Applied Linguistics; The Cultural Orientation Resource Center |last2=Lipson |first2=Juliene |last3=Younos |first3=Farid |last4=Mehdi |first4=Mariam}}</ref>

The summer rains that accompany the southwest monsoon in India, beat along the southern slopes of the Himalaya, and travel up the Kabul valley as far as Laghman, though they are more clearly felt in [[Bajour]] and [[Panjkora]], under the [[Hindu Kush]], and in the eastern branches of [[Safed Koh]]. Rain also falls at this season at the head of [[Kurram Valley|Kurram valley]]. South of this the [[Suliman mountains]] may be taken as the western limit of the monsoon's action. It is not felt in the rest of Afghanistan, in which, as in the rest of western Asia, the winter rains and snow are the most considerable. The spring rain, though less copious, is more important to agriculture than the winter rain, unless where the latter falls in the form of snow. In the absence of monsoon influences there are steadier weather indications than in India. The north-west blizzards which occur in winter and spring are the most noticeable feature, and their influence is clearly felt on the Indian frontier.
===Examples===

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Kabul (1956–1983)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high C = 18.8
|Feb record high C = 18.4
|Mar record high C = 26.7
|Apr record high C = 28.7
|May record high C = 33.5
|Jun record high C = 36.8
|Jul record high C = 37.8
|Aug record high C = 37.3
|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 = 37.8
|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 = NOAAKabul>{{cite web
| url = ftp://dossier.ogp.noaa.gov/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/AH/40948.TXT
| title = Kabul Climate Normals 1956–1983
| access-date = 2013-03-30
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Jalalabad
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high C = 25.0
|Feb record high C = 28.8
|Mar record high C = 34.5
|Apr record high C = 40.5
|May record high C = 45.4
|Jun record high C = 47.5
|Jul record high C = 44.7
|Aug record high C = 42.4
|Sep record high C = 41.2
|Oct record high C = 38.2
|Nov record high C = 32.4
|Dec record high C = 25.4
|Jan high C = 15.9
|Feb high C = 17.9
|Mar high C = 22.5
|Apr high C = 28.3
|May high C = 34.7
|Jun high C = 40.4
|Jul high C = 39.3
|Aug high C = 38.0
|Sep high C = 35.2
|Oct high C = 30.5
|Nov high C = 23.3
|Dec high C = 17.5
|Jan mean C = 8.5
|Feb mean C = 10.9
|Mar mean C = 16.3
|Apr mean C = 21.9
|May mean C = 27.7
|Jun mean C = 32.7
|Jul mean C = 32.8
|Aug mean C = 31.9
|Sep mean C = 28.1
|Oct mean C = 22.2
|Nov mean C = 14.9
|Dec mean C = 9.5
|Jan low C = 2.9
|Feb low C = 5.6
|Mar low C = 10.5
|Apr low C = 15.3
|May low C = 19.8
|Jun low C = 24.7
|Jul low C = 26.7
|Aug low C = 26.2
|Sep low C = 21.4
|Oct low C = 14.4
|Nov low C = 6.9
|Dec low C = 3.5
|Jan record low C = −14.1
|Feb record low C = -9.5
|Mar record low C = -1.0
|Apr record low C = 6.1
|May record low C = 10.6
|Jun record low C = 13.5
|Jul record low C = 19.0
|Aug record low C = 17.5
|Sep record low C = 11.0
|Oct record low C = 2.7
|Nov record low C = −4.5
|Dec record low C = −5.5
|Jan precipitation mm = 18.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 24.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 39.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 36.4
|May precipitation mm = 16.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 1.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 6.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 7.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 8.3
|Oct precipitation mm = 3.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 8.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 12.1
|Jan sun = 180.9
|Feb sun = 182.7
|Mar sun = 207.1
|Apr sun = 227.8
|May sun = 304.8
|Jun sun = 339.6
|Jul sun = 325.9
|Aug sun = 299.7
|Sep sun = 293.6
|Oct sun = 277.6
|Nov sun = 231.0
|Dec sun = 185.6
|Jan rain days = 4
|Feb rain days = 5
|Mar rain days = 8
|Apr rain days = 8
|May rain days = 4
|Jun rain days = 1
|Jul rain days = 1
|Aug rain days = 1
|Sep rain days = 1
|Oct rain days = 1
|Nov rain days = 2
|Dec rain days = 3
|Jan humidity = 61
|Feb humidity = 60
|Mar humidity = 62
|Apr humidity = 59
|May humidity = 47
|Jun humidity = 40
|Jul humidity = 52
|Aug humidity = 58
|Sep humidity = 56
|Oct humidity = 55
|Nov humidity = 58
|Dec humidity = 63
|source 1 = NOAA (1964-1983) <ref name= JalalabadNOAA>{{cite web
  |url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/AH/40954.TXT
  |title = Jalal Abad Climate Normals 1964-1983
  |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
  |access-date = December 25, 2012}}</ref>
|date=February 2013}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Herāt
|metric first = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 24.4
|Feb record high C = 27.6
|Mar record high C = 31.0
|Apr record high C = 37.8
|May record high C = 39.7
|Jun record high C = 44.6
|Jul record high C = 50.7
|Aug record high C = 42.7
|Sep record high C = 39.3
|Oct record high C = 37.0
|Nov record high C = 30.0
|Dec record high C = 26.5
|Jan high C = 9.1
|Feb high C = 11.9
|Mar high C = 17.9
|Apr high C = 24.0
|May high C = 29.6
|Jun high C = 35.0
|Jul high C = 36.7
|Aug high C = 35.1
|Sep high C = 31.4
|Oct high C = 25.0
|Nov high C = 17.8
|Dec high C = 12.0
|Jan mean C = 2.9
|Feb mean C = 5.5
|Mar mean C = 10.2
|Apr mean C = 16.3
|May mean C = 22.1
|Jun mean C = 27.2
|Jul mean C = 29.8
|Aug mean C = 28.0
|Sep mean C = 22.9
|Oct mean C = 16.1
|Nov mean C = 8.8
|Dec mean C = 4.7
|Jan low C = -2.9
|Feb low C = -0.6
|Mar low C = 3.8
|Apr low C = 9.1
|May low C = 13.3
|Jun low C = 18.2
|Jul low C = 21.2
|Aug low C = 19.2
|Sep low C = 13.2
|Oct low C = 7.4
|Nov low C = 1.0
|Dec low C = -1.4
|Jan record low C = −26.7
|Feb record low C = -20.5
|Mar record low C = −13.3
|Apr record low C = -2.3
|May record low C = 0.8
|Jun record low C = 9.7
|Jul record low C = 13.3
|Aug record low C = 8.4
|Sep record low C = 1.3
|Oct record low C = -5.6
|Nov record low C = −12.8
|Dec record low C = −22.7
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 51.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 44.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 55.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 29.2
|May precipitation mm = 9.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 0.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 0.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 1.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 10.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 35.8
|Jan sun = 149.3
|Feb sun = 153.5
|Mar sun = 202.5
|Apr sun = 235.7
|May sun = 329.6
|Jun sun = 362.6
|Jul sun = 378.6
|Aug sun = 344.8
|Sep sun = 323.2
|Oct sun = 274.0
|Nov sun = 235.0
|Dec sun = 143.1
|Jan rain days = 6
|Feb rain days = 8
|Mar rain days = 8
|Apr rain days = 7
|May rain days = 2
|Jun rain days = 0
|Jul rain days = 0
|Aug rain days = 0
|Sep rain days = 0
|Oct rain days = 1
|Nov rain days = 3
|Dec rain days = 5
|Jan snow days = 2
|Feb snow days = 2
|Mar snow days = 1
|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 = 1
|Jan humidity = 72
|Feb humidity = 69
|Mar humidity = 62
|Apr humidity = 56
|May humidity = 45
|Jun humidity = 34
|Jul humidity = 30
|Aug humidity = 30
|Sep humidity = 34
|Oct humidity = 42
|Nov humidity = 55
|Dec humidity = 67
|source 1 = NOAA (1959–1983)<ref name= NOAAherat>{{cite web
  |url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/AH/40938.TXT
  |title = Herat Climate Normals 1959-1983
  |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
  |access-date = December 25, 2012}}</ref>
|source 2 = Ogimet<ref>{{cite web
  |url = https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?lang=en&ind=40938&ano=2020&mes=7&day=20&hora=16&min=0&ndays=30
  |title = 40938: Herat (Afghanistan) Synop Summary
  |publisher = G. Ballester Vallor
  |access-date = July 21, 2020
  |archive-date = July 21, 2020
  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200721211427/https://www.ogimet.com/cgi-bin/gsynres?lang=en&ind=40938&ano=2020&mes=7&day=20&hora=16&min=0&ndays=30
  |url-status = live
  }}</ref>
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Kandahar (1964–1983)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high C = 25.0
|Feb record high C = 26.0
|Mar record high C = 36.5
|Apr record high C = 37.1
|May record high C = 43.0
|Jun record high C = 45.0
|Jul record high C = 46.5
|Aug record high C = 44.5
|Sep record high C = 41.0
|Oct record high C = 37.5
|Nov record high C = 31.5
|Dec record high C = 26.0
|Jan high C = 12.2
|Feb high C = 14.8
|Mar high C = 21.6
|Apr high C = 28.1
|May high C = 34.1
|Jun high C = 39.1
|Jul high C = 40.2
|Aug high C = 38.2
|Sep high C = 34.0
|Oct high C = 27.5
|Nov high C = 21.0
|Dec high C = 15.4
|year high C = 27.2
|Jan mean C = 5.1
|Feb mean C = 7.8
|Mar mean C = 13.9
|Apr mean C = 20.2
|May mean C = 25.4
|Jun mean C = 30.0
|Jul mean C = 31.9
|Aug mean C = 29.4
|Sep mean C = 23.5
|Oct mean C = 17.5
|Nov mean C = 11.0
|Dec mean C = 7.3
|Jan low C =  0.0
|Feb low C =  2.4
|Mar low C =  7.1
|Apr low C = 12.3
|May low C = 15.8
|Jun low C = 19.5
|Jul low C = 22.5
|Aug low C = 20.0
|Sep low C = 13.5
|Oct low C =  8.5
|Nov low C =  3.3
|Dec low C =  1.0
|year low C = 10.5
|Jan record low C = −12.1
|Feb record low C = -10.0
|Mar record low C = −4.8
|Apr record low C = 2.0
|May record low C = 2.4
|Jun record low C = 8.5
|Jul record low C = 13.5
|Aug record low C = 9.0
|Sep record low C = 5.2
|Oct record low C = -2.2
|Nov record low C = −9.3
|Dec record low C = −11.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 54.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 42.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 41.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 18.7
|May precipitation mm =  2.2
|Jun precipitation mm =  0
|Jul precipitation mm =  2.3
|Aug precipitation mm =  1.0
|Sep precipitation mm =  0
|Oct precipitation mm =  2.3
|Nov precipitation mm =  7.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 20.0
|Jan precipitation days =  6
|Feb precipitation days =  6
|Mar precipitation days =  6
|Apr precipitation days =  4
|May precipitation days =  1
|Jun precipitation days =  0
|Jul precipitation days =  0
|Aug precipitation days =  0
|Sep precipitation days =  0
|Oct precipitation days =  1
|Nov precipitation days =  2
|Dec precipitation days =  3
|Jan sun = 198.4
|Feb sun = 183.6
|Mar sun = 235.6
|Apr sun = 255.0
|May sun = 347.2
|Jun sun = 369.0
|Jul sun = 341.0
|Aug sun = 337.9
|Sep sun = 324.0
|Oct sun = 306.9
|Nov sun = 264.0
|Dec sun = 217.0
|Jan humidity = 58
|Feb humidity = 59
|Mar humidity = 50
|Apr humidity = 41
|May humidity = 30
|Jun humidity = 23
|Jul humidity = 25
|Aug humidity = 25
|Sep humidity = 24
|Oct humidity = 29
|Nov humidity = 40
|Dec humidity = 52
|source 1 = NOAA (1964–1983)<ref name= NOAAKandahar>{{cite web
  |url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/AH/40990.TXT
  |title = Kandahar Climate Normals 1964–1983
  |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
  |access-date = 26 December 2012}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

{{Weather box
| width        = auto
| location     = Zaranj
| metric first = Yes
| single line  = Yes
| collapsed = Yes 
| Jan record high C = 24.1
| Feb record high C = 30.6
| Mar record high C = 37.0
| Apr record high C = 45.0
| May record high C = 51.0
| Jun record high C = 49.7
| Jul record high C = 49.3
| Aug record high C = 50.0
| Sep record high C = 49.7
| Oct record high C = 42.0
| Nov record high C = 36.0
| Dec record high C = 27.8
| Jan high C = 14.3
| Feb high C = 18.7
| Mar high C = 25.0
| Apr high C = 32.6
| May high C = 37.3
| Jun high C = 42.8
| Jul high C = 42.5
| Aug high C = 41.3
| Sep high C = 37.0
| Oct high C = 31.2
| Nov high C = 23.1
| Dec high C = 17.7
| Jan mean C = 6.5
| Feb mean C = 10.0
| Mar mean C = 15.7
| Apr mean C = 23.3
| May mean C = 29.1
| Jun mean C = 33.4
| Jul mean C = 35.0
| Aug mean C = 32.3
| Sep mean C = 27.2
| Oct mean C = 21.9
| Nov mean C = 13.1
| Dec mean C = 8.7
| Jan low C = 0.1
| Feb low C = 2.9
| Mar low C = 7.7
| Apr low C = 14.7
| May low C = 20.0
| Jun low C = 25.2
| Jul low C = 27.3
| Aug low C = 24.9
| Sep low C = 18.5
| Oct low C = 12.3
| Nov low C = 4.8
| Dec low C = 0.7
| Jan record low C = −13.2
| Feb record low C = -8.2
| Mar record low C = −5.2
| Apr record low C = 1.0
| May record low C = 5.0
| Jun record low C = 16.0
| Jul record low C = 18.4
| Aug record low C = 13.2
| Sep record low C = 3.9
| Oct record low C = -2.7
| Nov record low C = −7.1
| Dec record low C = −8.8
| Jan precipitation mm = 19.7
| Feb precipitation mm = 9.9
| Mar precipitation mm = 11.2
| Apr precipitation mm = 2.4
| May precipitation mm = 0.6
| Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
| Jul precipitation mm = 0.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 0.0
| Sep precipitation mm = 0.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 1.2
| Nov precipitation mm = 1.4
| Dec precipitation mm = 5.1
| Jan rain days = 3
| Feb rain days = 2
| Mar rain days = 2
| Apr rain days = 2
| May rain days = 0
| Jun rain days = 0
| Jul rain days = 0
| Aug rain days = 0
| Sep rain days = 0
| Oct rain days = 0
| Nov rain days = 1
| Dec rain days = 1
| Jan humidity = 55
| Feb humidity = 50
| Mar humidity = 44
| Apr humidity = 40
| May humidity = 35
| Jun humidity = 29
| Jul humidity = 28
| Aug humidity = 29
| Sep humidity = 33
| Oct humidity = 41
| Nov humidity = 49
| Dec humidity = 54
| source 1 = NOAA (1969-1983)<ref name= ZaranjNOAA>{{cite web
  |url = ftp://dossier.ogp.noaa.gov/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/AH/40986.TXT
  |title = Zaranj Climate Normals 1969-1983
  |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
  |access-date = December 26, 2012}}</ref> 
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
| location     = Mazar-i-Sharif
| metric first = Yes
| single line  = Yes
| collapsed = Yes
| Jan record high C = 24.0
| Feb record high C = 28.6
| Mar record high C = 32.4
| Apr record high C = 37.8
| May record high C = 43.0
| Jun record high C = 45.6
| Jul record high C = 48.1
| Aug record high C = 46.0
| Sep record high C = 39.5
| Oct record high C = 37.0
| Nov record high C = 29.8
| Dec record high C = 24.4
| Jan high C = 8.0
| Feb high C = 10.7
| Mar high C = 16.3
| Apr high C = 24.3
| May high C = 31.2
| Jun high C = 37.0
| Jul high C = 38.9
| Aug high C = 36.9
| Sep high C = 31.9
| Oct high C = 24.7
| Nov high C = 16.4
| Dec high C = 10.8
| Jan mean C = 2.6
| Feb mean C = 5.1
| Mar mean C = 10.8
| Apr mean C = 17.9
| May mean C = 24.5
| Jun mean C = 29.9
| Jul mean C = 33.3
| Aug mean C = 29.9
| Sep mean C = 23.9
| Oct mean C = 16.7
| Nov mean C = 9.1
| Dec mean C = 5.1
| Jan low C = -2.1
| Feb low C = 0.0
| Mar low C = 5.1
| Apr low C = 11.3
| May low C = 16.6
| Jun low C = 22.5
| Jul low C = 25.9
| Aug low C = 23.8
| Sep low C = 17.1
| Oct low C = 9.4
| Nov low C = 3.2
| Dec low C = 0.0
| Jan record low C = −22.3
| Feb record low C = -24.0
| Mar record low C = −6.1
| Apr record low C = -0.8
| May record low C = 1.0
| Jun record low C = 11.4
| Jul record low C = 11.1
| Aug record low C = 13.7
| Sep record low C = 2.6
| Oct record low C = 4.5
| Nov record low C = −8.7
| Dec record low C = −15.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 28.9
| Feb precipitation mm = 34.8
| Mar precipitation mm = 43.8
| Apr precipitation mm = 28.3
| May precipitation mm = 11.2
| Jun precipitation mm = 0.2
| Jul precipitation mm = 0.0
| Aug precipitation mm = 0.0
| Sep precipitation mm = 0.1
| Oct precipitation mm = 3.9
| Nov precipitation mm = 13.5
| Dec precipitation mm = 21.7
| Jan rain days = 4
| Feb rain days = 7
| Mar rain days = 10
| Apr rain days = 9
| May rain days = 4
| Jun rain days = 0
| Jul rain days = 0
| Aug rain days = 0
| Sep rain days = 0
| Oct rain days = 2
| Nov rain days = 4
| Dec rain days = 6
| Jan snow days = 4
| Feb snow days = 3
| Mar snow days = 1
| 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 = 2
| Jan sun = 122.2
| Feb sun = 118.4
| Mar sun = 158.1
| Apr sun = 193.8
| May sun = 299.9
| Jun sun = 352.9
| Jul sun = 364.4
| Aug sun = 332.7
| Sep sun = 298.2
| Oct sun = 223.2
| Nov sun = 173.6
| Dec sun = 125.5
| Jan humidity = 79
| Feb humidity = 77
| Mar humidity = 72
| Apr humidity = 64
| May humidity = 44
| Jun humidity = 27
| Jul humidity = 25
| Aug humidity = 24
| Sep humidity = 28
| Oct humidity = 41
| Nov humidity = 62
| Dec humidity = 75
| source 1 = NOAA (1959–1983)<ref name=NOAAMazarisharif>{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/AH/40911.TXT |title=Mazar-i-Sharif Climate Normals 1959-1983 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=December 25, 2012}}</ref>
| date     = September 2011
}}

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Kunduz
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan record high C = 21.2
|Feb record high C = 25.0
|Mar record high C = 32.8
|Apr record high C = 38.9
|May record high C = 42.2
|Jun record high C = 46.2
|Jul record high C = 45.3
|Aug record high C = 44.2
|Sep record high C = 39.2
|Oct record high C = 39.4
|Nov record high C = 28.4
|Dec record high C = 21.6
|Jan high C = 6.3
|Feb high C = 9.5
|Mar high C = 15.8
|Apr high C = 23.0
|May high C = 29.8
|Jun high C = 37.3
|Jul high C = 39.0
|Aug high C = 36.9
|Sep high C = 31.8
|Oct high C = 24.5
|Nov high C = 16.0
|Dec high C = 9.7
|Jan mean C = 1.6
|Feb mean C = 4.4
|Mar mean C = 10.4
|Apr mean C = 17.2
|May mean C = 22.9
|Jun mean C = 29.3
|Jul mean C = 31.3
|Aug mean C = 29.2
|Sep mean C = 23.9
|Oct mean C = 16.9
|Nov mean C = 9.5
|Dec mean C = 4.4
|Jan low C = -2.4
|Feb low C = 0.0
|Mar low C = 5.7
|Apr low C = 11.6
|May low C = 15.7
|Jun low C = 20.9
|Jul low C = 23.3
|Aug low C = 21.5
|Sep low C = 16.3
|Oct low C = 10.6
|Nov low C = 4.1
|Dec low C = 0.0
|Jan record low C = −22.7
|Feb record low C = -23.1
|Mar record low C = −11.8
|Apr record low C = -2.1
|May record low C = 4.2
|Jun record low C = 12.5
|Jul record low C = 15.7
|Aug record low C = 12.6
|Sep record low C = 3.5
|Oct record low C = -2.0
|Nov record low C = −9.8
|Dec record low C = −20.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm =  44.0
|Feb precipitation mm =  56.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 76.7
|Apr precipitation mm =  54.4
|May precipitation mm =  29.8
|Jun precipitation mm =  0.1
|Jul precipitation mm =  1.3
|Aug precipitation mm =  0.3
|Sep precipitation mm =  0.1
|Oct precipitation mm =  7.3
|Nov precipitation mm =  23.7
|Dec precipitation mm =  28.4
|Jan rain days = 5
|Feb rain days = 6
|Mar rain days = 11
|Apr rain days = 10
|May rain days = 9
|Jun rain days = 1
|Jul rain days = 1
|Aug rain days = 0
|Sep rain days = 0
|Oct rain days = 3
|Nov rain days = 5
|Dec rain days = 6
|Jan snow days = 5
|Feb snow days = 4
|Mar snow days = 2
|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 = 1
|Dec snow days = 2
|Jan sun = 114.4
|Feb sun = 114.6
|Mar sun = 158.9
|Apr sun = 201.0
|May sun = 276.5
|Jun sun = 332.1
|Jul sun = 340.2
|Aug sun = 315.5
|Sep sun = 289.7
|Oct sun = 221.8
|Nov sun = 169.3
|Dec sun = 118.3
|Jan humidity = 80
|Feb humidity = 75
|Mar humidity = 75
|Apr humidity = 71
|May humidity = 54
|Jun humidity = 31
|Jul humidity = 28
|Aug humidity = 29
|Sep humidity = 32
|Oct humidity = 44
|Nov humidity = 63
|Dec humidity = 76
|source = NOAA (1958-1983)<ref name=NOAAKondoz>{{cite web|url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/AH/40913.TXT|title=Kunduz Climate Normals 1958-1983|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|access-date=25 December 2012}}</ref>
|date=September 2011
}}

==Rivers, streams and lakes==
{{See also|List of rivers of Afghanistan|List of dams and reservoirs in Afghanistan}}
[[File:Aerial photograph of Kandahar Province in 2011.jpg|thumb|[[Helmand River]] and [[Boghra Irrigation Canal|Boghra Canal]] running parallel in [[Helmand Province]]]]
[[File:Scenic view in western Afghanistan-2011.jpg|thumb|Scenic view in western Afghanistan]]
[[File:Hillside view in Khawajah Bahawuddin, Takhar Province, Afghanistan.jpg|left|thumb|[[Takhar Province]] in northern Afghanistan]]
[[File:River in Badakhshan province of Afghanistan.jpg|thumb|The [[Kokcha River]] in [[Badakhshan Province]]]]
Afghanistan receives snow between November and March, which gradually melts into numerous [[river]]s, [[stream]]s, [[canal]]s, [[lake]]s, [[pond]]s, and [[spring (hydrology)|springs]], but most of the country's [[fresh water]] continues to flow into neighboring countries.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-and-iran-strike-an-agreement-over-helmand-river-water-sharing-55739/ |title=Afghanistan and Iran Strike an Agreement Over Helmand River Water-Sharing |publisher=Khaama Press |date=June 21, 2022 |access-date=2022-06-22}}</ref> It loses about two-thirds of its water to neighboring Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.<ref name="Afghanistan and Pakistan's Looming Water Conflict">{{Cite news |url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/12/afghanistan-and-pakistans-looming-water-conflict/ |title=Afghanistan and Pakistan's Looming Water Conflict |publisher=The Diplomat |date=December 15, 2018 |access-date=2022-06-22 |quote=Afghanistan has abundant water resources. It produces 80 billion cubic meters of water a year, pumping 60 billion cubic meters of it to the neighbors — particularly Pakistan.}}</ref>

The nation's drainage system is largely landlocked.

==Vegetation==
The characteristic distribution of vegetation on the mountains of Afghanistan is worthy of attention. The great mass of it is confined to the main ranges and their immediate offshoots, whilst on the more distant and terminal prolongations it is almost entirely absent; in fact, these are naked rock and stone. On the Safed Koh alpine range itself and its immediate branches, at a height of {{convert|1800|-|3000|m|ft|abbr=on}} there is abundant growth of large forest trees, among which conifers are the most noble and prominent, such as ''[[Cedrus deodara]]'', ''[[Fir|Abies excelsa]]'', ''[[Pinus longifolia]]'', ''[[Pinus pinaster]]'', [[Pinus pinea|Stone pine]] (the edible pine, although this species is probably introduced, since it is original to [[Spain]] and [[Portugal]]) and the larch. There is also the [[taxus|yew]], the [[hazel]], [[juniper]], [[walnut]], [[peach|wild peach]] and [[almond]]. Growing under the shade of these are several varieties of [[rose]], [[honeysuckle]], [[Ribes|currant]], [[gooseberry]], [[Crataegus|hawthorn]], [[rhododendron]] and a luxuriant herbage, among which the ranunculus family is important for frequency and number of genera. The lemon and wild vine are also here met with, but are more common on the northern mountains. The walnut and oak (evergreen, holly-leaved and kermes) descend to the secondary heights, where they become mixed with alder, ash, khinjak, Arbor-vitae, juniper, with species of Astragalus. Here also are Indigoferae rind dwarf laburnum.

In Afghanistan [[forest cover]] is around 2% of the total land area, equivalent to 1,208,440 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, which was unchanged from 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 1,208,440 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to be [[primary forest]] (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 0% of the forest area was found within protected areas. For the year 2015, 100% of the forest area was reported to be under [[State ownership|public ownership]]. <ref>{{Cite book |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e225da-4a31-4e06-818d-ca3aeadfd635/content |title=Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |year=2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, Afghanistan |url=https://fra-data.fao.org/assessments/fra/2020/AFG/home/overview |website=Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}}</ref>

Down to {{convert|1000|m|ft|abbr=on}} there are [[Olea europaea|wild olive]], species of rock-rose, wild privet, acacias and mimosas, barberry and ''[[Zizyphus]]''; and in the eastern ramifications of the chain, ''[[Nannerops ritchiana]]'' (which is applied to a variety of useful purposes), ''[[Bignonia]]'' or trumpet flower, sissu, ''[[Salvadora persica]]'', verbena, acanthus, varieties of Gesnerae.

The lowest terminal ridges, especially towards the west, are, as it has been said, naked in aspect. Their scanty vegetation is almost wholly herbal; shrubs are only occasional; trees almost non-existent. Labiate, composite and umbelliferous plants are most common. [[Fern]]s and [[moss]]es are almost confined to the higher ranges.

In the low brushwood scattered over portions of the dreary plains of the Kandahar tablelands, it is possible to find leguminous thorny plants of the papilionaceous suborder, such as camel-thorn (''[[Hedysarum|Hedysarum alhagi]]''), ''[[Astragalus (plant)|Astragalus]]'' in several varieties, spiny rest-harrow (''[[Ononis]] spinosa''), the fibrous roots of which often serve as a tooth-brush; plants of the sub-order [[Mimosa]]e, as the sensitive mimosa; a plant of the [[rue family]], called by the natives ''lipad''; the common [[Artemisia (plant)|wormwood]]; also certain [[orchid]]s, and several species of Salsola. The rue and wormwood are in general use as domestic medicines—the former for [[rheumatism]] and [[Neurasthenia|neuralgia]]; the latter in fever, debility and dyspepsia, as well as for a vermifuge. The lipad, owing to its heavy nauseous odour, is believed to keep off evil spirits. In some places, occupying the sides and hollows of ravines, it is found the [[Nerium oleander|Rose Bay]], called in Persian ''khar-zarah'', or ass-bane, the wild [[laburnum]] and various Indigoferae.

In the last several decades, 90% of [[East Afghan montane conifer forests|forests in Afghanistan]] have been destroyed and much of the timber has been exported to neighboring Pakistan. As a result, large percent of Afghanistan's land could be subject to [[soil erosion]] and [[desertification]]. On the positive note, the [[Presidency of Hamid Karzai|Karzai administration]] and international organizations are helping counter this problem by often planting millions of saplings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afghanistan.usaid.gov/en/USAID/Article/611/Citizens_Plant_12_Million_Trees_in_Eastern_Afghanistan|title=Citizens Plant 1.2 Million Trees in Eastern Afghanistan|publisher=USAID Afghanistan|date=April 15, 2009|access-date=March 31, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307045142/http://afghanistan.usaid.gov/en/USAID/Article/611/Citizens_Plant_12_Million_Trees_in_Eastern_Afghanistan|archive-date=March 7, 2013}}</ref> Afghanistan had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 8.85/10, ranking it 15th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978 |issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507 |pmc=7723057 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Afghanistan}}
*[[Environmental issues in Afghanistan]]
*[[Provinces of Afghanistan]]

==References==
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{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. 1997. [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/aftoc.html "Afghanistan: A Country Sturdy"].

==External links==
{{Commons category|Geography of Afghanistan}}
*[http://www.cesty.in/afghanistan#mapy_afghanistanu Topographic map of Afghanistan (1 : 300 000)]
*[http://www.wdl.org/en/item/2675 Persia (Iran), Afghanistan and Baluchistan] is a map from 1897
*[http://www.wdl.org/en/item/2676 Afghanistan, Beloochistan, etc.] is a map from 1893 created by the American Methodist Church
{{Afghanistan topics}}
{{Geography of Asia}}
{{GeoSouthAsia}}
{{Asia topic|Climate of}}

[[Category:Geography of Afghanistan| ]]