Sulaiman Mountains, Pakistan

Sulaiman Mountains, Pakistan

The Sulaiman Mountains are a major geological feature of Pakistan and one of the bordering ranges of the Indian subcontinent. Bordering the Sulaiman Range to the north are the arid highlands of the Hindu Kush, with more than 50 percent of the lands there lying above 6,500 feet (2,000 m).

The Sulaiman Range, and the high plateau to the west and southwest of it, helps form a natural barrier against the humid winds that blow from the Indian Ocean, creating arid conditions across Southern Afghanistan to the north. In contrast, the relatively flat and low-lying Indus Delta is situated due east and south of the Sulaiman Mountains. This lush delta is prone to heavy flooding and is mostly uncultivated wilderness.

This image was acquired by Landsat 7’s Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) sensor on April 28, 2001. This is a false-color composite image made using shortwave infrared, infrared, and green wavelengths.

Image provided by the USGS EROS Data Center Satellite Systems Branch. This image is part of the ongoing Landsat Earth as Art series.