Geography, Topography and Physical Features
The district is bounded by South Waziristan on the north, Dera Ismail Khan District (DIK) on the east, Musakhel District on the southeast, Zhob District on the south and west, and by Paktika Province of Afghanistan on the northwest. Dahna pass links this district with DIK. Actual length of the gorge is 4 miles. Enclosing limestone cliffs rise perpendicularly some 15000 feet. Gorge gradually narrows from 20 yards to a few feet. Britishers made road through pass thus connecting Zhob with Dera Ismail Khan. It took one long decade from 1895 to 1905 complete the road. The area of district is 2800 km2.
In the north-east of Balochistan plateau, Zhob and sherani basin forms a lobe surrounded on all side by mountains. Qais Abdul Rashid(575 A.D.---661 A.D.) who is believed to be one of the progenitors of the Pushtoons lived in the Suleiman mountains.Natives call the place where he is buried "Da Kase Ghar" (the mountain of Qais). In pushto accent "Q" has no pronunciation.
In 1883,with the consent of the chiefs of the sherani tribe (the occupants of the range),the mountain was ascended by a survey party under Major Holdich,R.E.accompanied by a military escort.They found the summit of the ridge to consist of a long valley between two high rims-covered with the chilgoza or edible pine (pinus gerardiana). At the north end of the western rim is the highest peak,known as Kaisa Ghar,11,300feet above the sea-level;at the south end of the eastern rim is the Takht,properly so called,3441 meters(11,060 feet) above sea-level.
General elevation of the district is about 1500 to 3000 meter. Shinghar's height is 9273 feet. Torghar is the continuation of southern hills of Suleiman range, the highest peak is Charkundai (7517 feet) above from sea level.Dhana Sir, the head of Dhana,(elevation 3900 feet)is on a rough stony plateau, with the bed of the Chuhar Khel Dhana.Between the Chuhar Khel and Khiddarzai Dhanas is a very narrow and steep passe called Khaoaranai Narai.The Hatsu Bund(elevation 5750 feet)divides the Urja-sara plain from the Spasta plain.
In June 1891, the first Political Agent Zhob, Captain I.MacIver,(22 January 1890 to 14 March 1898) and sir Henry visited the area of Takht-e-Sulaiman and recorded their account dated 8 August 1894 and published in the "Geographical Journal" for that year:Takht-e-Sulaiman shrine is situated on a ledge below the crest on the southernmost bluff of Kaisa-ghar mountain. Both sister peaks(Shinghar and Kiasaghar) form highest range of Suleiman range.
Many legends attach to it, like one legend says Noah's Ark alighted here after the Deluge; while other connect it with King Solomon, whose throne alighted on this peak, which has ever since borne the name of Takht-i-Suleman. Lofty ranges west of the Takht-i-Suleiman contain strata of liassic (lower Jurassic) and middle Jurassic.(about 146 to 208 million years ago).
Rainfall is about 10 inches. Clouds causing rain in the district come from Bay of Bengal;the largest bay in the world.Climate is hot and dry in summer. January is the coldest month with mean maximum & minimum temperature of about 11.5°C and 1.9°C respectively. July is the hottest month, with mean maximum and minimum temperature of about 36.7-21.8°C respectively. District being in monsoon range receive heavy rainfall in summer from July to September.The District Head quarter is under construction at "Stano Raaghah".
Read more about this topic: Sherani Subdistrict
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