Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)

Hindu Kush Himalaya Latest News

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region recorded its lowest snow persistence in 23 years during the 2024–2025 winter, according to a new report published recently.

About Hindu Kush Himalaya

• The HKH mountains extend around 3,500 km over eight countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
• It covers an area of approximately 4.2 million sq.km.
• It runs northeast to southwest and divides the valley of the Amu Darya (the ancient Oxus River) to the north from the Indus River valley to the south. 
• To the east the Hindu Kush buttresses the Pamir range near the point where the borders of China, Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and Afghanistan meet, after which it runs southwest through Pakistan and into Afghanistan, finally merging into minor ranges in western Afghanistan. 
• The range has numerous high snow-capped peaks, with the highest point being Tirich Mir or Terichmir at 7,708 meters (25,289 ft) in Chitral, Pakistan.
• It is considered the Third Pole (after the North and South Poles) and has significant implications for climate.
• The HKH forms the largest area of permanent ice cover outside of the North and South Poles and is home to 4 global biodiversity hotspots. 
• The HKH region is the source of ten large Asian river systems: the Amu Darya, Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Salween, Mekong, Yangtse, Yellow River, and Tarim.
• The basins of these rivers provide water to 1.9 billion people, a fourth of the world’s population.
• Contains diverse ecosystems: glaciers, alpine meadows, forests, wetlands, and grasslands.
• HKH may be divided into three main sections: the eastern Hindu Kush, the central Hindu Kush, and the western Hindu Kush, also known as the Bābā Mountains.
• The inner valleys of the Hindu Kush see little rain and have desert vegetation.

Hindu Kush Himalaya FAQs

Q1. What rivers originated from Hindu Kush Himalayas?

Ans. Ten large Asian river systems originate in the HKH – the Amu Darya, Brahmaputra (Yarlungtsanpo), Ganges, Indus, Irrawaddy, Mekong, Salween (Nu), Tarim (Dayan), Yangtse (Jinsha) and Yellow River.

Q2. Which is the largest mountain in Hindu Kush?

Ans. Tirich Mir or Terichmir at 7,708 meters (25,289 ft) in Chitral, Pakistan.

Q3. Why is the Hindu Kush Himalayas referred to as the “Third Pole”?

Ans. It has the largest ice cover outside of the polar regions

Source: TOI