Hindu Kush

Hindu Kush (the 'Indian Caucasus' of Alexander the Great's historians) forms the westward continuation of the Himalayan system, of which it is sometimes reckoned a part, and from which it is separated by the chasm through which the Indus breaks its way to the plains. It strikes off from the south-west angle of the Pamir plateau, and extends westwards for 365 miles to the Bamiyan valley in Afghanistan, separating that country on the south from Turkestan on the north. Near its point of origin several rivers take their birth; the Oxus goes off north-west through Turkestan, and the Helmund south-west through Afghanistan. The main range breaks into four subsidiary ridges, and has a total width of about 200 miles. Unlike the Himalayas, it sinks suddenly to the plains of Turkestan on the north. It is crossed by several passes, at an average elevation of 12,000 or 13,000 feet. From the Bamiyan valley the range is continued westwards as a low watershed elevation, known as Koh-i-Baba. (Koh-i-Baba is also the name of a peak in the Hindu Kush.) The peak of Hindu Koh, about 80 miles to the north of the city of Kabul, is estimated to be more than 20,000 feet above the sea. The highest point in the range that has been yet measured exceeds 23,000 feet. The flanks of the mountains are mostly barren and destitute of cultivation; but minerals, especially iron, occur in great abundance. The inhabitants consist principally of Dards (see DARDISTAN) and Shins, the latter the descendants of the original colonists of the country. A loose kind of Mohammedanism is the prevalent form of religion. See J. Biddulph, Tribes of Hindu Kush (Calcutta, 1880). Conway ascended Pioneer Peak, 23,000 feet, and saw others higher than Everest. See HIMALAYAS.