Location:
Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Geographic coordinates:
33 00 N, 65 00 E
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total:
647,500 sq km
land:
647,500 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area—comparative:
slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total:
5,529 km
border countries:
China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km,
Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Terrain:
mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Amu Darya 258 m
highest point:
Nowshak 7,485 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc,
iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
Land use:
arable land:
12%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
46%
forests and woodland:
3%
other:
39% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land:
30,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:
damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding
Environment—current issues:
soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests
are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification
Environment—international agreements:
party to:
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography—note:
landlocked
Source: CIA World Fact Book
