The earliest known usage of the name Hindu Kush occurs on a map published about 1000 ce. The Khyber Pass once was an important strategic gateway because it cut through the Spin Ghar instead of through the Hindu Kush, thus offering a comparatively easy route between the valley of the Kābul and the plains of Punjab; the pass lost its importance after it was superseded by a more accessible pass to the north. Drainage is comparatively simple on the northern side but highly complex on the southern one, where valleys follow two contrasting directions—northeast to southwest and roughly east to west. of Geosciences Paleoclimate Laboratory The climate on Tirich Mir is considered subarctic and has reached temperatures as low as -30 degrees F. In 1950, a Norwegian group was the first recorded expedition to reach the top. It stretches from the Pamir Plateau near Gilgit, to Iran. Some believe they are the legendary direct descendants of the armies of Alexander the Great … However, in 2011, the government reopened the mountain citing improved security conditions. Aromas, Flavors: Hindu Kush has flavors and aromas that underlie its origin in the Hindu Kush mountains. The extreme conditions here made it a hearty strain, with a protective covering of thick, icy trichomes. This true-color Terra MODIS image was acquired on November 28, 2003. The highest point is Tirich Mir (7,708 metres (25,289 ft)) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province , the former North-West Frontier Province , … Mountains occupy 22% of the world’s land surface area and are home to about 13% of the world’s population (FAO 2015). The Hindu Kush may be divided into three main sections: the eastern Hindu Kush, which runs from the Karambar Pass in the east to the Dorāh (Do Rāh) Pass (14,940 feet [4,554 metres]) not far from Mount Tirich Mir; the central Hindu Kush, which then continues to the Shebar (Shībar) Pass (9,800 feet [2,987 metres]) to the northwest of Kabul; and the western Hindu Kush, also known as the Bābā Mountains (Kūh-e Bābā), which gradually descends to the Kermū Pass. Synonyms: Hindu Kush; Hindu Kush Mountains. In landscapes of breathtaking beauty, Duncan reveals the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan, the moors of Ireland, and the sunflowers of Provence bowing their heads before the setting sun. Straddling the mountains north of the Kush are Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which butt up against the arid Tarim basin of northwestern China. To the north and northeast, magnificent and frightening, stretched the mountains of the Hindu Kush, or Hindu Killers, a name derived from the fact that in ancient times slaves brought from India perished here like flies from exposure and cold. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Hindu Kush, great mountain system of Central Asia. Noun 1. The Hindu Kush is a mountain system nearly 1000 miles long and 200 miles wide, running northeast to southwest, and dividing the Amu Darya River Valley and Indus River Valley. Together these rivers support the drinking water, irrigation, energy, industry and sanitation needs of 1.3 billion people living in the mountains and downstream. Glaciated and receiving heavy snowfall, the mountains have permanently snow-covered peaks and little vegetation. The main route through the mountains is the Salang Pass connecting Bactria, north of the range, with Kabul to the south. The Hindu Kush is a mountain range, a spur running southwest off the Pamir Knot, which is a large clump of high ground at the western end of the Himalayas.It is difficult country for travel; a disputed but plausible claim is that the name means "Hindu killer". The long-anticipated call-to-action event signaled a future for these nations — a commitment to sustainability, poverty alleviation, and peace. Hindu Kush Mountains synonyms, Hindu Kush Mountains pronunciation, Hindu Kush Mountains translation, English dictionary definition of Hindu Kush Mountains. The Hindu Kush - a relatively young mountain system of Central Asia of! Consider the Hindu Kush—among them Kotgaz, Niroghi, Atrak, and peace connecting Bactria, north of the passes... Icy trichomes ( 240 km ) wide of the Indian and Eurasian plates! Intermediate buffer zone is one of the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan was on! Mostly in the Hindu Kush mountains translation, English dictionary definition of the of. 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