Afghanistan The Geography and Climate of Afghanistan The total area of Afghanistan is about 260,000 square miles. The country is bounded on the north by Soviet Central Asia, on the east and south by Pakistan, on the west by Iran, and on the northeast by China. Afghanistan’s geography consists of irrigated land, small but fertile river valleys, deep gorges, deserts, high plateaus, and snow-covered mountains. The eastern portion of the country is divided by the towering mountain ranges of the Hindu Kush and Pamirs, with peaks rising above 24,000 feet. The principal rivers drain to the southwest into the Helmand and Arghandab Valleys and then into a desolate, marshy area on the Afghan Iranian border called Seistan. Other rivers, including the Kabul River, flow southeast into the Indut River. The Amu Darya forms a large part of the northern boundary with Russia. Afghanistan’s climate comprises a cold, snowy winter and hot, dry summer. Extreme temperature changes occur from night to day, by season, and from place to place. During summer in Kabul (where the altitude is 5,800 feet) the temperature may be 50 degrees Fahrenheit at sunrise but reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit by noon. In the Jalalabad Plains (1,800 feet and 90 miles from Kabul) and southwestern parts of the country, summer temperatures can reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit. The chief characteristic of Afghanistan's climate is a blue cloudless sky with over 300 days of sunshine yearly. Even during winter, skies usually remain clear between snowfalls. Since rainfall is scarce from May to November, this period can be extremely dry and dusty. Afghanistan News: Militants to launch Afghan raids Two militant groups based in the Waziristan region of Pakistan decide to coordinate attacks against coalition forces inside Afghanistan. Foreign forces' worst Afghan toll The month of June is the deadliest for foreign troops in Afghanistan since the 2001 fall of the Taleban, official figures show. Index: Placenames Around the World