Natural Topography and Drainage of Pakistan

Flashcards covering the natural topography, drainage, and economic features of the mountain ranges, plateaus, plains, and deserts of Pakistan.

Topography

The study of surface features of the land.

Northern & North-Western Mountains Height

The height of these ranges changes from $6000\,m$ to $8475\,m$ from south to north respectively.

Northern Mountain Glaciers

Huge snowfields including Siachen, Baltoro, and Batura.

Northern Mountain Passes

High passes including Khunjerab, Shandur, and Lawarai.

Safed Koh

The only peak in the Western Mountains that is covered in snow, reaching heights up to $4000\,m$.

Western Mountain Valleys

Several valleys and low-lying basins including Bannu valley, Kohat valley, and the valley of Peshawar.

Western Mountain Passes

Historic passes including Bolan, Gomal, Khyber, Tochi, and Khurram.

Potwar Plateau Height

Mainly varies from $300\,m$ to $600\,m$ above sea level.

Badland Topography

A feature of the Potwar Plateau characterized by troughs, ravines, and landscapes of ridges.

Residual Hills (Potwar Plateau)

Hills such as Kala Chitta and Khairi Murat that rise to just over $1000\,m$.

Salt Range Districts

The range covers Jhelum, Chakwal, Kalabagh, and Mianwali districts.

Sakesar Mountain

The highest altitude point of the Salt Range, measuring $4,992\,feet$ ($1,527\,m$).

Khewra Salt Mines

Pakistan's largest and the world’s 2nd largest salt mines, located about $160\,km$ from Islamabad.

Hamuns

Shallow depressions in the Balochistan Plateau where rivers flowing westwards drain.

Balochistan Salt Lakes

Temporary salt lakes including Hamun-i-Lora and Hamun-i-Mashkal.

Doab

The area of land found at the confluence of two rivers.

Sindh Sagar Doab

The land located between the river Jhelum and the river Sindh (Indus).

Chaj Doab

The land between the river Chenab and the river Jhelum.

Rachna Doab

The land between the river Ravi and the river Chenab.

Bari Doab

The land between the river Sutlej and the river Ravi.

Active Flood Plains (Bet or Khaddar)

A narrow strip of land on both sides of a river that is flooded almost every year.

Alluvial Terraces (Scalloped Interfluves)

Areas of high grounds formed by old alluvium erosion, found in Bari, Rachna, and Chaj Doabs.

Piedmont Plains (Derajat)

Formed at the foot of mountains like the Himalayas, Kirthar, and Sulaiman when streams deposit alluvium, sand, and gravel during the rainy season.

Indus Delta

A triangular (fan) shaped tidal delta south of Thatta characterized by distributaries, mangrove swamps, and tidal flats.

Cuestas

Limestone ridges found in the Lower Indus Plains of Sindh that support the construction of barrages.

Thal Desert

A desert area located between the river Jhelum and the river Indus, also known as the Sindh Sagar Doab.

Thar Desert

A desert in the south-eastern part of Pakistan categorized into Tharparkar, Nara, and Cholistan.

Kharan Desert

A desert located in western Balochistan.