|
|
Article: The Hindu Kush.(Only In ...)
- Article from:
- Faces: People, Places, and Cultures
- Article date:
- March 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Carus Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Afghanistan's Hindu Kush (hin-DOO koosh) is one of the tallest mountain ranges on Earth. The steepest peak, Tirirch Mir, reaches to more than 25,000 feet. The entire range stretches more than 400 miles along the Afghan-Pakistan border. Glaciers abound, and mountain peaks are covered year-round with snow. In warmer months, glacial melt swells rivers, including the Kabul River, the Helmund River, and the Hari Rud, whose waters are used to irrigate crops, such as grapes, pomegranates, beans, and potatoes, in valley villages.
The Muslim name Hindu means "Indian." The Muslim verb kush means "to kill or subdue." So a literal translation of the name means "Indian ...