A Brief Description A turbulent past as well as a chaotic present describes the country of Afghanistan perfectly. It was invaded and conquered (over the centuries) by the Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Mongols, Tartars and British, and today it's deeply involved in America's on-going worldwide war on terrorism. Its brutal 1980's war with Russia caused over a million Afghanis to lose their lives, and when the Russians withdrew in 1989, they subsequently left the country in a turmoil of refugees and poverty. Internal fighting continued between varied mujahidin factions, giving rise to a state of warlordism that eventually spawned the Taliban. Their brutal control and social oppression ended when U.S. and allied military forces invaded the country shortly after the September 11 attacks on the United States. Even with the new government and the recent democratic election, Afghanistan's future is still very uncertain, especially with America's continuing war on terrorism, and its battles with the remaining followers of Usama (Osama) Bin Laden Read much more about Afghanistan here. Travel the World through Poster Art! Facts and Figures Name Afghanistan (long form) Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Population 29,929,000 Population & Density (all countries) here Capital City Kãbul (2.9 million) Currency Afghani (AFA) Currency Converter here Languages Afghan Persian (official), Pashtu (official), Turkic languages and local dialects Flag here National Day August 19 Religions Sunni Muslim (80%), Shi'a Muslim (19%) The meaning of "stan" here! Geographic Coordinates Latitude/Longitude (Capital City) 34º 31' N, 69º 11' E Relative Location Afghanistan is landlocked, and situated in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. It's positioned in the Middle East, a recognized geographical region of southwestern Asia. It's bordered by the countries of China, Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Land Statistics Coastline 0 (landlocked) Land Areas (land) 250,001 sq miles (647,500 sq km) (water) 0 sq miles (0 sq km) (TOTAL) 250,001 sq miles (647,500 sq km) Land Area (all countries) here Landforms About the size of the U.S. State of Texas, most of Afghanistan is a rugged, inhospitable mountainous landscape. More than 50% of the total land area lies above 6,500 ft. (2,000 m). It all culminates in the high peaks of the Hindu Kush, where extensions of the Pamir Mountains, Karakorum Mountains and the Himalayas all come together. In the north a fertile plain fronts the Anu Dar'ya River. In the south, below the mountains, rolling desert and scattered salt flats cover the land. Afghanistan is drained by numerous rivers; significant ones include the Amu Dar'ya, Hari, Helmand, and the Kabul - directly east of the capital city, flowing down into the Indus River in Pakistan. Highest Point Mt. Nowshak - 24,446 ft. (7,485 m) Lowest Point Amu Darya - 846 ft. (258 m) Land Divisions 34 provinces, including: Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khowst, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nurestan, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Panjshir, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, and Zabol.

Maps Afghanistan (large color) map here Afghanistan Outline Map here Afghanistan CIA version here Afghanistan Regional Map here Afghanistan Maps at UT here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Asia Continent (printable) here Asia Outline Map here Asia (Southeast) Outline Map here Asia (Name the Country) Map Test here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Indian Subcontinent Map here Middle East Landforms here Middle East Map here Middle East Outline Map here Middle East Rivers here - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - World Outline Maps (printable) here World Time Zone Map here Recommended Links Afghanistan (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more here! Afghanistan News here Afghanistan OnLine here Afghanistan Photos at TrekEarth.com here Afghanistan's Web Site here Regional country name definitions here! The meaning of "stan" here! Time and Weather Time Zone (UTC +4:30) Note that UTC is also known as GMT, or Greenwich Mean Time. Conversion details and additional info: here Climate Afghanistan is known for hot summers and very cold winters, especially in the higher reaches of the northeastern mountains, where blizzards with heavy snow are common. Throughout the year the southwestern areas of the country are quite dry, while the valleys to the east and southeast of Kabul are more humid. Summer high temperatures (June - August) reach the low 90s, central and south. Winter low temperatures hoover near freezing, with much colder conditions in the higher elevations. Traveler Info Attractions The U.S. Department of State and other world governments strongly warn citizens against travel to Afghanistan. There is an ongoing threat to kidnap and assassinate U.S. citizens and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) workers throughout the country. The ability of Afghan authorities to maintain order and ensure the security of citizens and visitors is limited. Remnants of the former Taliban regime and the terrorist al-Qaida network, and other groups hostile to the government, remain active, as U.S.-led military operations continue in this war-torn country. Country Dialing Code 93 Electricity Afghanistan uses 220 volts AC (50 Hz) Electrical adapters, products and tips here Travel Warnings here Visa Information here Travel the World through Poster Art!

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This page created by: Patrick Kennedy
Creation date: March 2007
Last update: 18 November 2009
URL: http://www.Patricksworldcurrency.com/countries/afghanistan.html