Geography of Pakistan
From K2 to the Arabian Sea: Pakistan's mountains, rivers, dams, lakes, deserts and provinces. Select 'Show on map' to see a place on the world map.
From K2 to the Arabian Sea: Pakistan's mountains, rivers, dams, lakes, deserts and provinces. Select 'Show on map' to see a place on the world map.
Practice modes
Languages & Literature
Pakistan
World & History
53 of 53 places
Gwadar (Balochistan)
Deep-sea port at the heart of CPEC
Gwadar was bought from Oman in 1958. Its deep-sea port, built with Chinese help, sits near the Strait of Hormuz and is the southern end of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Show on mapKarachi (Sindh)
Pakistan's busiest seaport
Handles a large share of Pakistan's trade. Port Qasim, the second major port, lies about 35 km to the east.
Show on mapBalochistan
Coastal Highway links Karachi and Gwadar
A dry, rugged coastline about 750 km long, with Ormara, Pasni and Gwadar along it. The Makran Coastal Highway passes Hingol National Park and Kund Malir beach.
Show on mapIndus River, Diamer (GB)
Under construction
A large dam being built on the Indus upstream of Tarbela, planned to be among the tallest roller-compacted concrete dams in the world, to store water and generate power.
Show on mapIndus River, Kashmore (Sindh)
Completed 1962
The first barrage on the Indus in Sindh, irrigating land in Sindh and Balochistan.
Show on mapIndus River, Jamshoro/Hyderabad (Sindh)
Completed 1955
Also called the Ghulam Muhammad Barrage; the last barrage on the Indus before the sea, supplying irrigation and water for Karachi.
Show on mapJhelum River, Mirpur (AJK)
Completed 1967
Pakistan's first major dam under the Indus Basin Project. Its height was raised in the 2000s to increase storage.
Show on mapIndus River, Sukkur (Sindh)
Completed 1932 (Lloyd Barrage)
Feeds one of the largest irrigation systems in the world, with seven canals watering much of Sindh.
Show on mapIndus River, Haripur (KP)
Completed 1976: world's largest earth-filled dam
Built under the Indus Basin Project after the Indus Waters Treaty, it stores water for irrigation and is one of Pakistan's largest sources of hydroelectricity.
Show on mapKabul River, near Peshawar (KP)
Completed 1960
One of Pakistan's first hydropower and irrigation projects, built with Canadian help.
Show on mapBahawalpur division (Punjab)
Home of Derawar Fort
Extends into India's Thar desert. It hosts the annual Cholistan Jeep Rally around Derawar Fort, and nomadic herders raise camels and cattle.
Show on mapBalochistan
Near the Chagai nuclear test site
A sandy desert with shifting dunes in western Balochistan. Pakistan's 1998 nuclear tests were carried out in the nearby Chagai hills (Ras Koh).
Show on mapPunjab, between the Indus and Jhelum
Being irrigated by the Greater Thal Canal
A sandy desert in the districts of Bhakkar, Layyah, Khushab and Mianwali, much of which has been turned into farmland by canal irrigation.
Show on mapSindh (and Rajasthan, India)
Large coal reserves (about 175 billion tonnes)
One of the most densely populated deserts in the world. Thar coal now fuels power plants, and the region is known for peacocks and rainfall-dependent farming.
Show on mapKarakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan
About 63 km long
One of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions. Its upper end, Concordia, is surrounded by K2, Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums, and is a famous trekking destination.
Show on mapKarakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan
About 67 km long
Meets the Hispar Glacier at the Hispar Pass to form one of the longest glacial systems outside the polar regions.
Show on mapEastern Karakoram (disputed)
About 76 km long: the 'world's highest battlefield'
Disputed between Pakistan and India since India occupied it in 1984; the 1949 ceasefire line ended at point NJ9842 and did not cover the glacier. Most deaths there are caused by weather and avalanches, such as the 2012 Gayari avalanche.
Show on mapHunza (Gilgit-Baltistan)
Formed by a landslide in 2010
A landslide in January 2010 blocked the Hunza River and submerged part of the Karakoram Highway, creating a turquoise lake; tunnels later restored the road.
Show on mapQuetta (Balochistan)
Built by the British in 1894
A reservoir in the hills near Quetta, a popular picnic spot; it often dries up during droughts.
Show on mapThatta (Sindh)
Main water source for Karachi
A large freshwater lake linked to the folk romance of Noori and Jam Tamachi; a Ramsar wetland for migratory birds.
Show on mapJamshoro (Sindh)
Pakistan's largest freshwater lake
Fed by the Indus and hill torrents; home to the Mohana boat people, though pollution and reduced water flow have harmed it.
Show on mapKaghan valley (KP)
About 3,224 m above sea level
A famous alpine lake near Naran, named after the legend of Prince Saiful Muluk and a fairy princess. Malika Parbat rises above it.
Show on mapSkardu (Gilgit-Baltistan)
Supplies water to Skardu
A natural lake enlarged by the Satpara Dam, providing water and electricity to Skardu.
Show on mapKaghan (KP) – Chilas (GB)
About 4,173 m
Connects the Kaghan valley with Chilas on the Karakoram Highway; open only in summer and popular with tourists.
Show on mapBalochistan
Links the Sibi plain with Quetta
A historic route between the Indus plains and Afghanistan, through which the British-built railway line from Sibi to Quetta runs.
Show on mapHunza (Gilgit-Baltistan) – China
4,693 m: highest paved international border crossing
Links Pakistan with China's Xinjiang on the Karakoram Highway, a key route for CPEC. Khunjerab National Park protects the Marco Polo sheep and snow leopard.
Show on mapKhyber district (KP) – Afghanistan
About 53 km long; leads to Torkham border
The historic gateway between South and Central Asia, used by invaders and traders for centuries. The Khyber Rifles guard it, and the Bab-e-Khyber gate stands at Jamrud.
Show on mapDir – Chitral (KP)
3,118 m; bypassed by the Lowari Tunnel (2017)
Was snowbound for months each winter, cutting Chitral off; the 8.5 km Lowari Tunnel, opened in 2017, now gives year-round access.
Show on mapChitral (KP) – Ghizer (GB)
About 3,700 m: 'Roof of the World'
Hosts the annual Shandur Polo Festival between teams from Chitral and Gilgit, on one of the highest polo grounds in the world.
Show on mapChitral (KP) and Afghanistan
Highest peak: Tirich Mir (7,708 m)
Stretches from central Afghanistan into north-western Pakistan. Historic passes through it linked South Asia with Central Asia.
Show on mapGilgit-Baltistan
Home to K2 and four of Pakistan's five 8,000 m peaks
One of the world's most heavily glaciated mountain ranges outside the polar regions. The Karakoram Highway (KKH) crosses it to China through the Khunjerab Pass.
Show on mapPunjab (Jhelum, Chakwal, Khushab)
Contains the Khewra Salt Mine
A low hill range between the Jhelum and Indus rivers. Khewra, one of the world's largest and oldest salt mines, produces pink Himalayan salt. Katas Raj temples and Kallar Kahar lake are nearby.
Show on mapKarakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan
8,051 m: 12th-highest in the world
Named for its long, broad summit ridge, close to K2 near Concordia. First climbed by an Austrian team in 1957.
Show on mapKarakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan
8,080 m: 11th-highest in the world
Called 'Hidden Peak' because it is hard to see from the approach valleys. First climbed by an American expedition in 1958.
Show on mapKarakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan
8,035 m: 13th-highest in the world
One of Pakistan's five 'eight-thousanders'. First climbed by an Austrian expedition in 1956.
Show on mapKarakoram, Gilgit-Baltistan
8,611 m: world's second-highest mountain
Also called Mount Godwin-Austen. Known as the 'Savage Mountain' because it is one of the hardest and deadliest peaks to climb. An Italian expedition made the first ascent in 1954; Ashraf Aman became the first Pakistani to summit it in 1977.
Show on mapHimalaya, Gilgit-Baltistan
8,126 m: ninth-highest in the world
The western anchor of the Himalayas, nicknamed the 'Killer Mountain' for the many climbers who died on it. Hermann Buhl reached the summit alone in 1953. Its Rupal Face is one of the highest mountain faces on Earth.
Show on mapKarakoram, Nagar (Gilgit-Baltistan)
7,788 m
Famous for rising almost directly from the Hunza valley floor, giving it one of the greatest vertical reliefs on Earth; it is clearly visible from the Karakoram Highway.
Show on mapHindu Kush, Chitral (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)
7,708 m: highest peak of the Hindu Kush
The highest mountain outside the Himalaya–Karakoram ranges; it dominates the skyline of Chitral town. First climbed by a Norwegian expedition in 1950.
Show on mapCapital: Muzaffarabad
Self-governing territory with its own President and Prime Minister
Part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir administered by Pakistan, with the Neelum valley and Mangla Dam. Badly hit by the 2005 earthquake.
Show on mapCapital: Quetta
Largest province by area (about 44% of Pakistan)
The least populated province, rich in minerals and natural gas (Sui). Gwadar port, Reko Diq copper-gold deposits and the Chagai hills are here.
Show on mapCapital: Gilgit
Formerly the Northern Areas
Home to K2 and most of Pakistan's highest peaks and glaciers. Given self-governance with its own assembly and chief minister under the 2009 Gilgit-Baltistan Order.
Show on mapFederal capital
Capital since the 1960s (replacing Karachi)
A planned city designed by Greek architect Constantinos Doxiadis at the foot of the Margalla Hills. Faisal Mosque, Shakarparian and Pakistan Monument are landmarks.
Show on mapCapital: Peshawar
Renamed from NWFP in 2010
Formerly the North-West Frontier Province; the former tribal areas (FATA) merged into it in 2018. Known for Swat, Chitral and Gandhara heritage sites such as Takht-i-Bahi.
Show on mapCapital: Lahore
Most populous province (about 128 million, 2023)
Named after its five rivers (Indus tributaries Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas). Pakistan's agricultural and industrial heartland, producing much of its wheat, cotton and rice.
Show on mapCapital: Karachi
Home to Mohenjo-daro and Karachi
Named after the Indus (Sindhu). Contains Pakistan's largest city and main seaport, Karachi, and the ruins of Mohenjo-daro of the Indus Valley civilization.
Show on mapPunjab
Formed by the Chandra and Bhaga rivers
Rises in Himachal Pradesh, India, and enters Pakistan near Sialkot. It joins the Jhelum at Trimmu and later the Sutlej to form the Panjnad, which flows into the Indus.
Show on mapBalochistan
About 560 km: Balochistan's longest river
Flows through Hingol National Park, the largest national park in Balochistan, to the Arabian Sea. The park includes the Princess of Hope rock formation and mud volcanoes.
Show on mapGilgit-Baltistan to Sindh
About 3,180 km: Pakistan's longest river
Rises in Tibet near Lake Mansarovar, enters Pakistan in Gilgit-Baltistan, and flows the length of the country to the Arabian Sea near Thatta. It is the lifeline of Pakistan's agriculture and home to the endangered Indus river dolphin. Tarbela Dam is on the Indus.
Show on mapKashmir and Punjab
Mangla Dam; joins the Chenab at Trimmu
Rises at Verinag spring in Kashmir, flows past Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, and is one of the 'western rivers' given mostly to Pakistan by the Indus Waters Treaty.
Show on mapKhyber Pakhtunkhwa
Joins the Indus at Attock
Rises in Afghanistan and enters Pakistan near Torkham, flowing past Peshawar and Nowshera. At Attock its muddy waters meet the clearer Indus. Warsak Dam is on this river.
Show on mapPunjab
Flows past Lahore
One of the three 'eastern rivers' allotted to India by the Indus Waters Treaty, so it often runs low. Lahore's Badshahi Mosque and the tomb of Jahangir stand near its banks.
Show on mapPunjab
Easternmost of the five rivers of Punjab
Rises in Tibet near Lake Rakshastal, flows through India and enters Pakistan near Kasur. An 'eastern river' under the Indus Waters Treaty.
Show on map