LocationSouthern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran Geographic coordinates33 00 N, 65 00 E Map referencesAsia Areatotal: 647,500 sq km Area - comparativeslightly smaller than Texas Land boundariestotal: 5,529 km Coastline0 km (landlocked) Maritime claimsnone (landlocked) Climatearid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers Terrainmostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest Elevation extremeslowest point: Amu Darya 258 m Natural resourcesnatural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones Land usearable land: 12.13% Irrigated land27,200 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources65 cu km (1997) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 23.26 cu km/yr (2%/0%/98%) Natural hazardsdamaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts Environment - current issueslimited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection Geography - notelandlocked; 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) |
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Source: CIA World Factbook | |