Kirthar Range

The Kirthar Mountains ( ur, كوه کھیرتھر; sd, کير ٿر جبل) are a mountain range that mark the boundary between the Pakistani provinces of Balochistan and Sindh, and which comprise much of the Kirthar National Park. The mountain range forms part of the Kirthar-Sulaiman geologic province, which stretches from the Arabian Sea coast north to the Sulaiman Mountains in northwest Pakistan. The highest peak of the mountains is Zardak Peak at .

Geography

The mountains extend southward for about from the Mula River in east-central Balochistan to Cape Monze on the Arabian Sea. In total, the Kirthars cover an area of about 9,000 square kilometers. The Khasa Hills and Mulri Hills close to the Arabian Sea coast are sub-ranges of the Kirthar Mountains which extend into the city limits of Karachi. The mountains are drained by the Gaj River and Hub River.

Mountain peaks

The highest peak of the mountains is Zardak Peak at . The second tallest, Drakhel Hill, that was reported by British Army Corps of Engineers surveyed it as 8,135 ft (2,479 m) Barugh Hill, has a height that was reported in April 2009 as , although the British Army Corps of Engineers surveyed it as . Barugh Hill is the highest mountain in the Sindh portion of the Kirthars. Barugh, means "big fat mountain" in the Brahui language, the language of the Sasoli tribe, who still live in the area. Barugh Hill is situated a few miles north-west of the Gorakh Hill Station, which is situated at an elevation of .

The next highest peak is the mountain ''Kutte-Ji-Kabar'' ( Sindhi for "Dog's Grave"), also known as ''Kuchak-na-Kabar'' in Brahui. The mountain is located in a region claimed by the provincial governments of Sindh and Balochistan. As recorded in ''Folk Tales of Scinde and Guzerat'' (circa 1855), the mountain is named for a story in which a Brahui man is forced to leave his dog as collateral to a wealthy Hindu merchant in order to settle his debts. According to the tale, the dog chased after thieves who had stolen from the merchant, leading the merchant to free him and return to his master. The Brahui man thought the dog escaped and so was angry with the dog for his disobedience. The rejected dog died, and when the Brahui man came to learn of the true story, he felt remorseful and climbed to the top of the mountain in order to bury his dog.

Other peaks include the Andraj Mountain at . There are also a number of other peaks of the Kirthar Mountains exceeding , which all receive occasional snowfall during the winter season. To the south the mountains decrease in size towards Bedor Hill, with a height of .

Passes

There are several passes in the range which are passable, but the only one often used is the Gaji Lak Pass on the road from Zidi and Khuzdar to Jhalawan.

Geology

The Kirthars consist of a series of parallel rock hill ridges oriented mostly north–south, with piedmont and piedmont- alluvial plains located between ridges, with dry riverbeds. The ridges rise rapidly over short distances between valleys and ridges. From the Arabian Sea coast, they rise to nearly in the north.

The Kirthars are part of the Kirthar-Sulaiman geologic province, which stretches from the Arabian Sea coast north to northwestern Pakistan along the western boundary of the Indus Valley. The upper portions of the mountains are largely limestone, while the middle and southern portions of the mountain are shale which date to the middle Eocene era.

Settlement

Within the Kirthar Mountains are 21 prehistoric sites. The 16th-18th century Taung Tombs are also located in the range. There are 71 tombs which situated in the area of the ''Chhuttas'' tribe. The inhabitants of the Kirthar Mountains are chiefly Chhutto people of Bhootani tribe, and various Sindhi and Balochi tribes who subsist by flock grazing. Major Baloch tribes living in the Kirthars are Chhutta, Burfat, Gabol, Marri, Bozdar, Lund, Nohani, Bugti, Chandio, and Lashari.

Gallery

File:Cold water Spring in Kirthar National Park, Sindh, Pakistan.jpg, Cold water spring in the Kirthar National Park
File:Kirthar park gazelle.jpg, Chinkara gazelle in the Kirthar Mountains
File:Kirthar park view 2.jpg, Another view of the Kirthar National Park
File:Taung tombs in Kirthar National Park.jpg, The Taung Tombs
File:Spring of Piprasr in Kirthar Range.jpg, Spring of Piprasar in Kirthar Mountain
File:Agricultural vale in Kirthar Mountain.jpg, Agricultural vale in Kirthar Mountain
File:A cave near water spring in Kirthar Mountain.jpg, A cave near water spring in Kirthar Mountain
File:Water fall in the Kirthar Mountain.jpg, Water fall in the Kirthar Mountain
File:A wall of oldest fort in the Kirthar Mountain.jpg, A wall of oldest fort in the Kirthar Mountain
File:A kind of flowery plant in Kirthar mountain.jpg, A kind of flowery plant in Kirthar mountain
File:Senwar (in Sindhi) plant in Kirthar Mountain.jpg, Senwar (in Sindhi) plant in Kirthar Mountain
File:A thorny plant in Kirthar Mountain.jpg, A thorny plant in Kirthar Mountain
File:Kute Ji Kabar Mount Of Dogs Grave Highest Peak Khirthar Range in Sindh.jpg, The "Dog's Grave" at Kutte-ji-Qabar

See also

* List of mountain ranges of Pakistan
* List of mountains in Pakistan
* Bado Hill Station
* Pom pom

References

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Mountains and hills of Karachi
Mountains and hills of Sindh
Mountain ranges of Balochistan (Pakistan)