Terrains of Torment
Geomorphologic subdivision of Afghanistan includes 13 geomorphic provinces set up on the basis of the fundamental rock structures and basic bedrock lithologies. The Transpressional Plate Boundary geomorphic region of northeast and east has the four provinces of the Eastern Pamir–Hindu Kush Mountain with four sections; the Nuristan Hindu Kush Mountains with three sections, the Kabul basin with no subsidiary sections; and the Katawaz Mountains and Basins with three sections. The Accreted Terranes geomorphic region has the three provinces of the Farah Block Basin and Range with three sections; the Helmand Block with four sections; and the Helmand Basin with its six sections that reflect its considerable geomorphic diversity. The Middle Afghanistan Shear Zone geomorphic region along the central east–west axis of the country has only the geomorphic province of the Hari Rud–Ghorband, with four different sections. The North Afghanistan Platform geomorphic region has the five geomorphic provinces of the Western Pamir–Hindu Kush Mountains with its three sections; the North Afghanistan Platform Plateau with its two sections; the Tadjik Basin with three sections; the Northern Afghanistan Plateaus and Loess Hills with three sections; and the Central Afghanistan Mountains and Plateaus with four sections. All the 4 regions, 13 provinces, and 42 sections of Afghanistan are described briefly to establish new recognition of the tremendous geomorphic diversity of the country.