Afghanistan covers an area of 251,825 sq. mi. The northwestern, western, and southern border areas are primarily desert plains and rocky ranges. The southeast and northeast borders rise higher into the glacier-covered peaks of the Hindu Kush. The northern border is formed by the Amu Darya River and its tributary, the Panj. High mountains cover much of Afghanistan, with about one-half of the land over 6600 ft. in elevation. Small glaciers and year-round snowfields are common. Kabul, in the East, is the largest city and also the capital. …
