Hindu Kush

Northeastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan

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The Hindu Kush is an 800-kilometer-long (500 mi) rugged mountain range stretching from central and eastern Afghanistan northeastward into Pakistan and Tajikistan, forming the western section of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region and buttressing the Pamir Mountains near where Afghanistan, China and Pakistan meet.

In northeastern Afghanistan, the range dominates the landscape with towering snow-capped peaks, deep valleys and fragmented topography that has fostered diverse ethnic groups, including the Nuristani people in the province of Nuristan located within the mountains. The highest peak is Tirich Mir at 7,708 meters (25,289 ft) in Pakistan’s Chitral District, while Afghanistan’s most crucial passage is the Salang Pass at 3,878 m, which links the capital Kabul in the south to northern Afghanistan and was historically infamous as a deadly route for slaves and travelers.

The mountains form a major watershed separating the Indus River basin to the south from the Amu Darya basin to the north, with glaciers feeding over 10 major river systems that supply water, food and hydroelectric power to billions downstream. The range experiences harsh winters with heavy snowfall and relatively dry summers, and its inner valleys are arid with desert vegetation, making it one of Central Asia’s great geographical and climatic barriers.