The Natural Enviroment

Climate

The diversity in geographical conditions cause likewise climatic conditions in NWFP. The Division of Dera Ismail Khan in the south is one of the hottest in Pakistan, with maximum temperatures of between 46 and 50 C, while summers are temperate and winters often extremely cold in the mountainous region of the north. The air is generally dry, therefore daily and annual temperatures may differ considerably.

There is wide variation in precipitation, both in amounts and in distribution over the year. Rainfall over NWFP mainly occurs in two distinct crop-growing seasons. viz:Rabi (winter, December to March) and Kharif (summer, June to September). Almost no rainfall occurs in lower NWFP and relatively very little in the hills of upper NWFP in the intermediate periods, i.e. April to May and October to November.

Geography and Terrain

              Karakoram to Hindu Kush

Land-forms in the northern parts of NWFP reach their greatest altitude with elevations averaging 3000 metres above sea level and peaks of more than 7000 metres, including the mighty Tirich Mir (7750 metres) near Chitral City. Dividing Chitral from the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan is the Hindu Kush range with its equally impressive southern extension, the Hindu Raj or Shandur Range.

Coming down from the hills are a series of very productive agricultural basins; Peshawar, Kohat-Bannu and the Derajat. Most are fringed by hills which are steep on the northern sides and with gentle slopes towards the southern side. Basins and plains comprise roughly one quarter of the Frontier's total surface area. All the dense forests are located in the moist north and northwestern mountainous regions.

Some of the most rugged terrain in the world can be found here starting with the plains and valleys along the Indus river and culminating in the mighty ranges of the Hindu Kush and Karakoram where ice water streams flow in the summers to provide life to grassy meadows and forests which are still untainted by the vagaries of mankind. In winters these are covered by a blanket of snow which also softens the harshness of the high mountain peaks, thus enhancing the beauty and peace of a land which might have been taken straight out of a story book setting.

In other regions, the sheer desolation of the landscape at the foothills towards the south amazes the eye of the wanderer and it is difficult to decide whether such a land can be inhabited. It has been written that the land was made for the people in it, not the people for the land.

FATA

The tribal area, comprising the territories lying between the administered districts of NWFP and the 'Durand Line' is spread over an area of10,510 square miles. In this mountainous tract live over 3millionself-reliant Pathans, who prefer to be calledPukhtoons.

                                   Winding road to the Khyber Pass

The tribal area is part land of dry ravines and rocky hills and the other part green plateaus. Enchanting valleys and picturesque landscape full of natural beauty cover the area. At places the rugged hills, gushing stream, green fields and clusters of fortified hamlets among the glens and dales present a fine and particularly attractive scenery. The lush green valleys of the Kurram Agency; the smiling dales of Bajaur Agency; the picturesque valleys of North and South Wiziristan Agencies and heart-captivating scenery, lofty pine trees, groves and patches of green fields of Tirah and Orakzai Agency present, happily, a scene unrivalled anywhere. Tirah, the queen of the Khyber Agency, described as "Garden of Eden" can be compared to Switzerland and Kurram Agency can favorably compete with Kashmir.

In short, a romantic halo surrounds this much-talked about, but little understood area. These lovely hills and dales as a source of tourist attraction have not yet been fully opened up to the public.