Chapter #2, Topography and Physiography of Pakistan

Terminology Definition
Relief Natural or Physical features of the land.
Drainage Rivers or the features of rivers.
Gorges Deep irregular depression of land formed by rivers in a valley.
Cirques Deep regular depression in a valley formed by glaciers; lakes
Meanders Zigzags of a river; curves
Ox Bow Lake Temporary crescent-shaped part of a river
Levees Natural rising of river banks due to deposition of regiments
Valley Area between two mountains
Hill Stations A plain area on a slope of a mountain
Passes Natural connection between two mountains
Snowfields Snow covered valley, where snow never melts (5000-5500m)
Transhumance Migration of people from the north to plain areas in winters
Cuesta Limestone Hills; having one steep and one gentle slope

Physiography Of Pakistan:
Mountainous North
The mountainous north includes three big ranges namely the Himalayas, Hindu Kush
and Karokaram. It also homes smaller ranges such as Kohistan, Dir and Swat.

Himalayas
The Himalayas consist of three different levels namely the Sub-Himalayas, Lesser-
Himalayas and Greater-Himalayas. They’re also known as the Siwaliks, Pir-Panjal and
Central Himalayas respectively. They originate from India and cover the North-East of
Pakistan.

Sub Himalayas
Sub Himalayas are located in the foothills of The Lesser Himalayas. They are also
known as the SiIwaliks. Their average altitude is 600m-1200m and are made up of
sedimentary rock with natural vegetation. They spread over the Rawalpindi to
Abbottabad Division.

Lesser Himalayas
Lesser Himalayas are located in the North of the Sub-Himalayas and are known as the
Pir-Panjal range. They have an average altitude of 1800m to 4600m. They’re made up
of hand-igneous rock with mugged topography and steep slopes. They have 7 hill
stations such as Muree, Ghora Gali and Nathia Gali. River Jhelum passes through this
level of the range as well. Additionally, they home river eroded features such as the
Ox-Bow Lake, Meanders, Gorges and V-Shaped Valleys. Overall, this range spreads
over Kashmir.
Higher Himalayas
They originate from India and cover the North-East of Pakistan, having an average
altitude of 6000m. The peak of the mountain is known as ‘Nanga Parbat’ having an
altitude of 8126m, it is also called The Killer Peak. It has rugged topography with
steep slopes. Most peaks are covered with snow. It accommodates snowfields and
glaciers such as Rupal North and Rupal South. It has drainage features. River Indus
partially separates the Himalayas from the Karokaram Range.

Hindu Kush
They come from Afghanistan and cover the North-West of Pakistan. The average
altitude of the Hindu Kush range is 5000m with the highest peak being Tirich Mir at
7708m. The second highest being Noshaque peak at 7492m.

It is mostly barren due to deforestation but has a few green valleys such as Chitral,
Swat and Kumnat. It has undulating, rugged topography with steep slopes and many
passes including the Baroghil and Lawari pass. Rivers in the range are namely River
Swat, Kumnat and Chitral while some glaciers are named Tirich Mir and Sakiz Jerab.

Karokaram
Located in the North of the Himalayas, these ranges cover the Northern boundary of
Pakistan. Originating in China and other central Asian states, the average altitude of
the range is 7000m with 20 high peaks. The highest peak is popularly known as K2
but formally as Godwin Austin with the altitude of 8613m.

It homes many valleys such as Naltar Valley as well as important passes such as
Khunjerab Pass and Karokaram Pass. Another feature of the Karokaram Range are its
snowfields and glaciers namely Siachin, Hisper, Baltoro and Batura.

Kohistan, Swat & Dir

These are three small ranges located in the south of Hindu Kush. Kohistan is located
between River Indus and River Swat. Swat Range is located between River Swat and
River Panjkora and lastly, Range Dir is located between River Panjkora and River
Kunar. They have an average altitude of 6000m in the North decreasing towards the
south with 2000m.

They have rugged topography with steep slopes and snow in winters. Some known
valleys are Valley Kohistan, Valley Swat and Valley Dir.
Safed Koh & Waziristan
Safed Koh
Located between River Gomal and River Kabul in KPK, the Safed Koh range has an
altitude of 4000m with its highest peak at 4712m namely Sikaram. Its most successful
valley is known as Peshawar, which is also the capital of KPK.
Khyber Pass is located in this range connecting Pakistan with Afghanistan. Most peaks
here are covered with snow as the Siberian Winds hit these ranges. It has rugged
topography with steep slopes. River Kabul makes the northern boundary of Safed
Koh.

Waziristan
Located in the south of Safed Koh, Waziristan has the average altitude of 2000m
decreasing southward. It has two rivers namely River Tochi and River Khurram. River
Gomal makes its southern boundary. Bannu is its deepest valley and Kohail is its
highest.

Sulayman & Kirthar Ranges

Sulayman Ranges
Making the boundary between Southern Punjab and Northern Punjab, Sulayman
Ranges have an altitude of 3000m with its highest peak being Takht-e-Sulayman at
3340m. It has rugged topography with steep slopes and hard rocks. These ranges are
barren and take a turn near Quetta which is known as the Quetta Syntactic Knot.

Kirthar Ranges
Making the boundary between Sindh and Balochistan, these ranges are located in
Southern Quetta. They have an average altitude of 1500m which decreases
southward towards the Arabic Sea. They’re divided into smaller ranges namely PAB &
Hala as well as Bhit & Bhadra ranges.

Balochistan Plateau
Eastern Hills:
Tobakakar Ranges:
Coming from Afghanistan, they cover the North-East of Balochistan. They have an
average altitude of 2000m+ and merge with the Quetta Syntactic Knot. They have
highly rugged topography with steep slopes.

Kalat Plateau:
Located in Southern Quetta, it is a syncline for River Loralai and River Zhob for them
to deposit their water and sediments into. It is also known as a river basin.

Lasbella Plains:
This is a triangular plain area by River Hub and River Poralai.
Khuzdar Knot:
This is a triangular range located in the South of Kalat Plateau alongside Kirth
Mountains. The average altitude is 1500m which decreases Southward towards the
Arabian Sea. They are highly barren with steep slopes.

Western Hills:
Makran Coastal Range [MCR]:
Running parallel to CMR, they have an altitude of 300-600m. They are highly
consolidated with barren land.

Central Makran Range [CMR]:

Running parallel to MCR, they have an altitude of 600-1200m. They are highly
consolidated with barren land.

Chugai:
Originating from Afghanistan, they cover the Northern part of Balochistan. They have
an average altitude of 1500m and have highly rugged topography with barren land.

Raskoh:
This is the highest range of Balochistan having an average altitude of 2000m+ with its
peak being at 3006m namely Raskoh. Subsistence farming is practiced here with
Karez Irrigation.

Siohan:
Originating from Iran, the Siohan range is the longest range of Balochistan and
merges into Quetta. It has an average altitude of 2000m with rugged topography and
gentle slopes. Subsistence farming is practiced here with Karez Irrigation.

Potwar Plateau & Salt Ranges

Potwar Plateau
Located between River Indus and River Jhelum in the northern mountains, the average
altitude of the plateau in the north is 3000m – covered by Margalla Hills and Kala-Chitta
Hills. The altitude decreases southward reaching 300m to 600m. Badland topography
is present where agriculture could have been practiced.

Salt Ranges
Located between River Indus and River Jhelum, in the south of the Potwar Plateau, the
Salt Ranges have an average altitude of 700m to 1500m. Additionally, they have
badland topography. Some salt mines are named Khewra, Warcha and Kalobagh. Some
lakes are known as Kallar-Kahar, Makarachi and Uchali.
Doabs & Bar Uplands
Doabs
A doab is a plain area between two rivers, also known as interfluves. There are 5
doabs in the UIP.

Lower Bari Doab

Located between River Sutlej and the dry channel of River Beas.

Upper Bari Doab

Located between the dry channel of River Beas and River Ravi.

Rechna Doab
Located between River Ravi and River Chenab.

Chaj Doab
Located between River Chenab and River Jhelum.

Sindh Sagar Doab

Located between River Jhelum and River Indus.

Bar Uplands
An elevated area in a Doab.

Nili Bar
Located in the Lower Bari Doab between River Sutlej and the dry channel of River
Beas.

Ganji Bar
Located in the Upper Bari Doab between the dry channel of River Beas and River
Ravi.

Sandal Bar
Located in the Rechna Doab between River Ravi and River Chenab.

Kirana Bar
Located in the Chaj Doab between River Chenab and River Jhelum.

Thal Desert
Located in the Sindh Sagar Doab between River Jhelum and River Indus.
> Instead of a bar, there is a desert in the Sindh Sagar Doab.
Indus Plains
Features:
Active Flood Plains
Located beside the River Indus and its eastern tributaries, the Active Flood
Plain’s width differs in the LIP and the UIP. It is much wider in the Lower
Indus Plains, around14km to 30km but much narrower in the Upper Indus
Plains with a 3km to 7km width. It is more elevated than a river channel. It
experiences floods annually and is unsuitable for agriculture despite fertile
soil. Though, it is very suitable for rice cultivation.

Old Flood Plains

Located between the Active Flood Plains and Alluvial Terraces in the Upper
Indus Plains, the Old Flood Plains also form between the AFP and Thar
Desert in Sindh. They are much wider than Active Flood Plains and
experience flood every 7 to 8 years. Their soil is alluvial and so, the region is
the main agricultural land of Pakistan.

Alluvial Terraces
An elevated area in a Doab. (Bar Uplands)

Piedmont Plains
Located in the foothills of the Sulayman and Kirthar ranges, these plains
have alluvialfans and braided channels alongside them. They form when
running water passes from the mountain slopes and deposits sediments
into the region. The heaps of sediments are the alluvial fans while the
braided channels are divided river channels.

Rolling Sand Dunes

These construct in deserts such as Thar, Cholistan and Nara. They have a multitude
offeatures such as:

Feature Description
Sand Dunes Temporary sediments of sand that move with the wind.
Sand Ridges Permanent sediments of sand that form in hills.
Sand Ripples Zigzag patterns in sand.
Transversal Dunes Larges dunes in the shape of an arch.
Oasis Natural body of water surrounded by vegetation.

Deltaic Plains
A triangular delta around the Arabian Sea that divides itself into 11
different distributaries. They are very suitable for the cultivation of
mangroves but unsuitablefor any form of agriculture due to salty water,
unstable land and tidal floods.
However, plain areas surrounding this region is very suitable for agriculture
due toalluvial soil, availability of water and suitable temperatures.