Hindu Kush Range: Geography, Tectonics and Passes
Why in the news
A strong earthquake in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush put the spotlight on this seismically active mountain system.
Key facts
- Quake: magnitude 5.9, near Jurm town, Badakhshan province, Afghanistan.
- Length: about 800 km across Central and South Asia.
- Meets: Karakoram and the Pamir Knot (Roof of the World) in the east; fades into lower hills in Iran in the west.
- Highest point: Tirich Mir, 7,708 m, Chitral District, Pakistan.
- Rivers: feeds the Amu Darya (ancient Oxus) northward and Indus tributaries southward.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Origin | Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate collision |
| Quake depth | Intermediate, 70 to 300 km |
| Cause of depth | Plate piece subducting down into the mantle |
| Khyber Pass | Afghanistan-Pakistan gateway |
| Salang Pass | Links northern Afghanistan with Kabul; has a very high road tunnel |
Significance
- Called a water tower of Asia because its rivers support farming in Central Asia and the Indus basin.
- Rugged peaks and narrow valleys kept ethnic groups apart and sheltered them from invaders.
- Passes such as Khyber were routes for Silk Road traders and invaders including Alexander and Babur.
Exam angle
- Highest peak: Tirich Mir.
- Plates involved: Indian and Eurasian.
- Deep quakes differ from shallow Himalayan ones.
- Related: Karakoram, Pamir Knot, Amu Darya.