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Ecoregions Of Afghanistan
{{Short description, none The following is a list of ecoregions in Afghanistan, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Terrestrial ecoregions Temperate coniferous forests * East Afghan montane conifer forests Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands * Gissaro-Alai open woodlands Montane grasslands and shrublands * Ghorat-Hazarajat alpine meadow * Hindu Kush alpine meadow * Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe *Northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows *Pamir alpine desert and tundra * Sulaiman Range alpine meadows Deserts and xeric shrublands * Afghan Mountains semi-desert * Badkhiz-Karabil semi-desert * Baluchistan xeric woodlands * Central Afghan Mountains xeric woodlands * Central Persian desert basins * Paropamisus xeric woodlands * Registan-North Pakistan sandy desert References * C.Michael Hogan; World Wildlife Fund. 2012Registan-North Pakistan sandy desert. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment Topic ed. Pete ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ecoregion
An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural communities and species. The biodiversity of flora, fauna and ecosystems that characterise an ecoregion tends to be distinct from that of other ecoregions. In theory, biodiversity or conservation ecoregions are relatively large areas of land or water where the probability of encountering different species and communities at any given point remains relatively constant, within an acceptable range of variation (largely undefined at this point). Three caveats are appropriate for all bio-geographic mapping approaches. Firstly, no single bio-geographic framework is optimal for all taxa. Ecoregions reflect the best compromise for as many taxa as possible. Se ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Deserts And Xeric Shrublands
Deserts and xeric shrublands are a biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Deserts and xeric (ancient Greek xērós, “dry") shrublands form the largest terrestrial biome, covering 19% of Earth's land surface area. Ecoregions in this habitat type vary greatly in the amount of annual rainfall they receive, usually less than annually except in the margins. Generally evaporation exceeds rainfall in these ecoregions. Temperature variability is also diverse in these lands. Many deserts, such as the Sahara, are hot year-round, but others, such as East Asia's Gobi, become quite cold in winter. Temperature extremes are a characteristic of most deserts. High daytime temperatures give way to cold nights because there is no insulation provided by humidity and cloud cover. The diversity of climatic conditions, though quite harsh, supports a rich array of habitats. Many of these habitats are ephemeral in nature, reflecting the paucity and seasonality of available water. Woody-ste ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geography Of Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a landlocked mountainous country located on the Iranian Plateau, at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia.* * * * * * The country is the 40th largest in the world in size. Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan, located in the Kabul Province. With a location at the intersection of major trade routes, Afghanistan has attracted a succession of invaders since the sixth century BCE. Afghanistan contains most of the Hindu Kush. There are a number of major rivers in the country, including Amu Darya, Arghandab, Farah, Hari, Helmand, Kabul, Kokcha, and Kunar. The country also possesses many smaller rivers as well as streams, canals, lakes, ponds, and springs. Most of its fresh water has been historically flowing into neighboring countries. Climate Rainfall in Afghanistan is very scarce, and mainly only affects the northern highlands, arriving in March and April. Rainfall in the more arid lowlands is rare, and can be very unpredictable. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Afghanistan Geography-related Lists
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the northeast and east. Occupying of land, the country is predominantly mountainous with plains in the north and the southwest, which are separated by the Hindu Kush mountain range. , its population is 40.2 million (officially estimated to be 32.9 million), composed mostly of ethnic Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks. Kabul is the country's largest city and serves as its capital. Human habitation in Afghanistan dates back to the Middle Paleolithic era, and the country's strategic location along the historic Silk Road has led it to being described, picturesquely, as the ‘rounda ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ecoregions Of Afghanistan
{{Short description, none The following is a list of ecoregions in Afghanistan, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Terrestrial ecoregions Temperate coniferous forests * East Afghan montane conifer forests Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands * Gissaro-Alai open woodlands Montane grasslands and shrublands * Ghorat-Hazarajat alpine meadow * Hindu Kush alpine meadow * Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe *Northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows *Pamir alpine desert and tundra * Sulaiman Range alpine meadows Deserts and xeric shrublands * Afghan Mountains semi-desert * Badkhiz-Karabil semi-desert * Baluchistan xeric woodlands * Central Afghan Mountains xeric woodlands * Central Persian desert basins * Paropamisus xeric woodlands * Registan-North Pakistan sandy desert References * C.Michael Hogan; World Wildlife Fund. 2012Registan-North Pakistan sandy desert. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment Topic ed. Pete ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paropamisus Xeric Woodlands
The Paropamisus xeric woodlands ecoregion (WWF ID: PA1322) covers the portion of northeastern Afghanistan north of the central mountain range and the Hindu Kush Mountains. The name is derived from the Old Persian name for the region - Parupraesanna ( "Beyond the Hindu Kush"). While there are low canopy woodlands in the northeast of the ecorgegion, most of the territory is desert or xeric (dry) scrubland. Location and description The ecoregion stretches for across northern Afghanistan, from the city of Herat in the west to the Wakhan Corridor in the east. The territory is on the north slopes of the mountains of central Afghanistan and the Hindu Kush. To the north is the Badghyz and Karabil semi-desert ecoregion, to the south are the Ghorat-Hazarajat alpine meadow and Hindu Kush alpine meadow ecoregions. The terrain is rugged: elevations range from to a high point of . Climate The climate of ecoregion is ''Cold semi-arid climate'' (Köppen climate classification (BS ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Central Persian Desert Basins
The Central Persian desert basins ecoregion (WWF ID: PA1313) covers the arid steppe and desert basins of central Iran, stretching into northwestern Afghanistan. The ecoregion extends over the Central Iranian Plateau, which is surrounded by mountain ranges and has no outlets to the sea. Much of the terrain is hot sand-and-gravel desert and large salt flats. The vegetation includes many specialized species of halophytes (salt-tolerant), xerophytes (drought-tolerant), and psammophile (sand-loving) plants. Location and description The ecoregion is bounded on the west and south by the Zagros Mountains, on the north by the Alborz Mountains (Elbruz) along the Caspian Sea, on the northeast by the Kopet Dag mountains on the border with Turkmenistan, and on the east by a series of lower ranges along the border with Afghanistan. Higher elevation mountain ridges of the Kuh Rud and Eastern Iran montane woodlands ecoregion, which intrude into the plateau. In the north of the basin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Central Afghan Mountains Xeric Woodlands
The Central Afghan Mountains xeric woodlands ecoregion (WWF ID: PA1309) covers the xeric (dry) eastern and southern slopes of the central mountain range of Afghanistan, between the sandy desert to the south and the alpine meadows in the higher, wetter region to the north. Despite the 'woodlands' in the ecoregion name, very little of the territory is forested – less than 1% – but is instead sparse vegetation or herbaceous cover. Location and description The central mountain ranges of the Afghanistan are western extensions of the Hindu Kush mountains in the northeast of the country. These subranges center on the Koh-i-Baba (Baba Mountain Range) the Koh-e Paghman Mountains. The mean elevation is , with a highest peak being Kuh-e Kokzaro Zaghicha at the northeastern extreme of the ecoregion. Climate The climate of the ecoregion is '' Humid continental climate - Hot, dry summer sub-type'' (Köppen climate classification Dsa), with large seasonal temperature differentials ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baluchistan Xeric Woodlands
The Baluchistan xeric woodlands ecoregion (WWF ID: PA1307) covers the middle elevations of a series of mountain ranges of western Pakistan and northeastern Afghanistan, reaching from the Arabian Sea in the south to the Hindu Kush Mountains and the Himalayas in the north. The characteristic vegetation is xeric (dry) woodlands of shrubs and herbaceous cover. The region has rich biodiversity but relatively few endemic species. Location and description In the south, the ecoregion rises from the coastal ranges into the Makran Range and Kirthar Mountains. It proceeds north through the arid desert of Pakistan's Balochistan Province along the western border of Pakistan, including the Zarghun Ghar Range, Sulaiman Range and Spīn Ghar Mountains into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Eventually it reaches the base of the Hindu Kush and Himalayas. These mountain ranges are periodically cut by passes and valleys, including the Bolan Pass near Quetta and the Khyber Pass above the Valley of Pesh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Badkhiz-Karabil Semi-desert
The Badghyz and Karabil semi-desert ecoregion (WWF ID: PA1306) covers the hills north of the central mountain ranges of Afghanistan, southeast Turkmenistan, and portions of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The landscape has been described as "savannah-like" and reminiscent of Africa, with desert sedges ('' Carex'') and stands of wild pistachio trees (''Pistacia vera''). The area supports high biodiversity and a number of rare and endemic species, such as the endangered Turkmenian kulan ''(Equus hemionus kulan)''. Location and description The hilly ecoregion is situated between the large sandy Karakum desert to the north, the Koyentag ('Impassable') Mountains to the east, the Parapamiz Mountains of the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan to the south, and Kopet Dag Mountains of Turkmenistan and Iran to the southwest. Throughout the region are large depressions of dried salt pans, supporting salt-tolerant plants. Climate The climate of the ecoregion is '' Hot-summer Mediterranean climate'' ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Afghan Mountains Semi-desert
The Afghan Mountains semi-desert ecoregion (WWF ID: PA1301) covers three disconnected interior valleys in the north of the mountains of Afghanistan. These valleys are arid (250–300 mm/year of precipitation), and covered mostly in thorny shrubs. Overgrazing by livestock has put pressure on the grasses and the wild animals dependent on them. Location and description The valleys of this ecoregion lie along the central mountain range of Afghanistan, the Koh-i-Baba, a western extension of the Hindu Kush. The western sector of this ecoregion is on the valley of the Hari River around the town of Chaghcharan. The middle sector covers the Bamyan Valley at an altitude of . The easternmost sector is in Badakhshan Province on the northern slope of the mountains 100 km north of Jalalabad. The terrain ranges in elevation from , with an average of . Climate The climate of the ecoregion is '' Humid continental climate - Warm, dry summer sub-type'' (Köppen climate classification D ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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