Location
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Area Comparative
Almost six times the size of Virginia; slightly smaller than Texas
Maritime Claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
Arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Population Distribution
Populations tend to cluster in the foothills and periphery of the rugged Hindu Kush range; smaller groups are found in many of the country's interior valleys; in general, the east is more densely settled, while the south is sparsely populated
Natural Hazards
Damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts
Geography Note
Landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)
