THE NATURAL TOPOGRAPHY
What the topography means:
Topography is the study and description of the surface features of land.
Pakistan can be divided into six major natural topography areas.
(i) The northern mountains and north western mountains.(Himalayas, Hindukush, the Karakorum)
(ii) The western mountains (Safedkoh ranges, Waziristan hills, Suleiman range, kirthar range)
(iii) The Baluchistan plateau
(iv) Potwar plateau and Salt ranges
(v) The Indus plain
(vi) Desert areas. (kharan desert, Thar desert, Thal desert.
KARAKORAM RANGE:
Karakoram is situated in the north of Himalaya in which Northern Kashmir and the regions of Gilgit are situated. Its highest top is K-2 which is 8.611 meters high.
Relief:
• Average altitude about 6000 m
• Karakoram means black gravel
• Mass of rock & ice located at the extreme north of Pakistan.
• Extending for more than 400 km from Hunza to Shyok River.
• Range runs in an east to west direction & forms a very rugged landscape.
• Snow covered peaks, valleys, gorges, cliff and gully are important features are found there.
• Steep sided peaks and deep narrow valleys are located there.
• Cold winds blow during winters and temperature falls below freezing point in winters.
• Precipitation is mainly in the form of snow fall at higher altitude and rainfall at lower altitude during winter.
• Winters are long and cold while summers are mild and short.
• Alpine forests are located.
• Siachen (78km), Biafo (62.5) Baltoro, Batura and Hispar are famous glaciers here.
• Khunjerab & Karakoram pass are located in the Karakoram Range.
Drainage of Karakoram Range: (how water is carried from one place to another)
• Drainage is called total run off of water.
• River Shyok and river Gilgit are the main source of drainage.
• As main glaciers are located in the region so the melting of snow gives rise to the water table.
• As the rivers are in the upper course so the flow of rivers is very fast.
• Whatever comes in the flow of the rivers like pebbles stones etc. are carried forward and is deposited in the reservoirs in the form of silt.
• Due to the deposition of silt the storage capacity of reservoirs is decreasing.
HIMALAYAN RANGE:
Himalaya is surrounded by most of the part of Pakistan towards North. Himalaya means “the house of ice”. These mountains are spread up to Gilgit. The name of one of its top mountain is Nanga Parbat.
Relief
• Located at the South of Karakoram Range.
• Runs in east to west direction.
Himalayan range comprises of:
(i) Siwaliks (600-1200 meters) these hills are located near Attock.
(ii) Lesser or lower Himalayas (1800 -4500meters) are represented by Pir Panjal Range and consists of Murree, Nathia gali, Gora gali etc.
(iii) Central Himalayas or great Himalayas (5000-8126 meters) are located between Pir Panjal Range and Karaoram range. Nanga Parbat (8126 meters the highest peak of this range) and Rakhiot (7074 meters) are located there.
• Snow covered mountains are found here.
• Steep sided mountains & deep narrow valleys are located here.
• Extreme cold winds blow during winters.
• Winters are cold & long while summers are mild & short.
• Snowfall at higher altitude & rainfall at lower altitude is experienced during summers.
• Alpine & coniferous forests are found here.
Drainage:
• River Indus & River Chenab is the main sources of drainage.
• Melting of snow gives rise to the water table.
• As the rivers are in the upper course, so the flow of the river is very fast.
• Whatever comes in the flow of the river is carried forward & deposited in reservoirs in the form of silt.
• Due to the deposition of silt, the storage capacity of the reservoirs is decreasing.
HINDUKUSH RANGE
The Hindukush range lies in the North West of Karakoram Range. Most of the mountains of this range are in Afghanistan. The highest top of this range is Tirichimir which is 7690 meters high. In this range Chitral and Dir are situated.
Relief:
• Hindu Kush lies where the borders of Afghanistan & China meet on Pakistan’s north & North West border.
• Located to the South West of Karakoram range.
• Average height of mountains is 5000 meters.
• Runs in North of South Direction.
• Tirch Mir (7690 meters) & Noshaq (7484 meters) is the highest peak.
• Snow covered peaks are found hers.
• Steep sided mountain & deep narrow valleys are located here.
• Many passes including Khyber Pass, Lawari Pass, Shandur Pass etc. are located there.
• Winters are cold & long while summers are mild to hot & short.
• Extreme cold winds blow during winters.
• Temperature falls below freezing point.
• Snowfall at higher altitude & rainfall at lower altitude is experienced during winters.
• Alpine & coniferous forests are found here.
Drainage:
• River Swat & river Kabul are the main sources of drainage.
• Warsak Dam on river Kabul is the main source of irrigation, drainage and power of generation.
• Melting of snow gives rise to the water table of the rivers.
• As the rivers are in the upper course, so the flow of the rivers is very fast.
• Whatever that comes in the flow of the river like stone pebbles etc. are carried forward & deposited in the reservoirs in the form of silt.
• Due to the deposition of silt, the storage capacity of the reservoir is decreasing.
Lifestyle & Economic Activities :
• Nomadic to semi nomadic lifestyle is common at higher altitude areas.
• Animal rearing is the main profession of the nomadic & semi nomadic people.
• Transhumance is practiced at higher altitude areas.
• Agriculture is also practiced on smaller scale.
• Warsak dam on river Kabul provides irrigation, drainage & power generation.
• Mining is also one of the professions (on Hindu Kush).
• Primary, secondary & tertiary industries are found here.
• Tobacco, wheat, rice & sugarcane are grown here.
• Apple, apricot, grapes, and peaches are common here.
GLACIERS:
• Glaciers are a mass of snow on the mountains.
• Many of the world’s glaciers lie in the mountains of Pakistan.
• Some of the important glaciers are
(i) Siachen, 78 km long locate in the Karakoram Range.
(ii) Baltoro, 58 km long, the the Karakoram Range.
(iii) Batura , 58 km long in the Hunza valeey in the Karakoram range.
IMPORTANCE OF THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS:
• Historical passes connect Pakistan to China and Afghanistan. A land route through Karakoram Highway has been opened to carry out trade.
• Snowcapped peaks melt during summer to drain water into river Indus and its tributaries which irrigate vast Indus plain.
• A source of valuable minerals, timber and fruits. Provides raw material to several industries
e.g. Furniture, paper, chipboard industry, chemical industries.
• Mountain peaks provide protection to Pakistan against the cold winds from central Asia. The temperature does not go below freezing point over the upper Indus plain & climate remains tolerable throughout the year.
• Scenic beauty promotes tourist resorts which are source of Income to local people during summer.
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