Afghanistan geographical location. A complete description of Afghanistan. External economic relations

The population of Afghanistan consists of over 20 nations, but the concept of “Afghan” applies to all citizens of the country - as proclaimed in the 2004 Constitution.

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan borders Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, China, India (the territory of Jammu and Kashmir disputed by India, China and Pakistan). It has no access to the sea.
This is one of the poorest countries in the world, where since 1978 there has been Civil War.
It is all the more offensive to realize the sad fact of the difficult economic situation of the state since Afghanistan is located at a crossroads between East and West and is an ancient center of trade and migration. And its geopolitical position - between South and Central Asia on the one hand and the Middle East on the other - could well be to its advantage: to play an important role in economic, political and cultural relations between countries in the region.

State symbols

Flag- is a panel with an aspect ratio of 7:10, on which there are three vertical stripes, where black is the color of historical and religious banners, red is the color of the supreme power of the king and a symbol of the struggle for freedom, and green is the color of hope and success in business. In the center of the coat of arms is a mosque with a mihrab (a niche in the wall of the mosque for the imam of the mosque to pray in, the leader of prayer, who during prayer should be in front of the rest of those praying) and a minbar (a pulpit or tribune in a cathedral mosque), above which the shahada (testimony) is written about faith in the One God Allah and the messenger mission of the Prophet Muhammad). The flag was approved on January 4, 2004.

Coat of arms- emblem of Afghanistan. The latest version of the emblem includes the addition of the shahadah on Arabic upstairs. Below this is an image of a mosque with a mihrab that faces Mecca with a prayer mat inside. The two flags attached to the mosque are the flags of Afghanistan. Below the mosque is an inscription that means the name of the nation. There is a garland around the mosque.

State structure of modern Afghanistan

Form of government- Islamic republic.
Head of State– President, elected for 4 years. The President is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the country's Armed Forces, forms the government, and is elected for no more than two consecutive terms.
Head of the government- the president.
Capital- Kabul.

Largest cities- Kabul.
official languages– Pashto, Dari (eastern dialect of the Persian language).
State religion– Sunni Islam (90% of the population). Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, various autochthonous pagan cults and syncretic beliefs are also widespread.
Territory– 647,500 km².
Population– 31,108,077 people. Afghanistan is a multinational state. Its population belongs to various language families: Iranian, Turkic, etc.
The most numerous ethnic group are the Pashtuns (from 39.4 to 42% of the population). The second largest group is Tajiks (from 27 to 38%). The third group is the Hazaras (from 8 to 10%). The fourth largest ethnic group is Uzbeks (6 to 9.2%). Less numerous are the aimags, the Turkmens, and the Baluchis.
Currency- Afghani.
Administrative division– Afghanistan is a unitary state, administratively divided into 34 provinces (wilayat), which are divided into districts.
Climate– subtropical continental, cold in winter and dry hot in summer.
Economy– highly dependent on foreign aid. High level unemployment. Industrial products: clothing, soap, shoes, fertilizers, cement, carpets, gas, coal, copper. Agricultural products: opium, grain, fruits, nuts, wool, leather. Exports (official): opium, fruits and nuts, carpets, wool, astrakhan fur, precious and semi-precious stones. Import: industrial goods, food, textiles, oil and petroleum products.

Drug production

“No country in the world, except China in the mid-19th century, produced as many drugs as modern Afghanistan” (Annual Report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). Afghanistan produces more than 90% of the opium on the world market. International forces were never able to take control of the entire territory of Afghanistan, limiting their real influence mainly to Kabul and the surrounding area. Poppy cultivation is often the only source of income for Afghan farmers.
The Taliban “banned drugs and punished them harshly,” carrying out repression against drug producers. But NATO is implementing " humanitarian» to the drug-producing population.

Education– the level of education in Afghanistan is one of the lowest among developing countries. Primary school education (from 3 years in rural areas to 6 years in cities) is compulsory and free for children aged 7 to 14 years. At the end primary school access to secondary education is opened, which is divided into incomplete (grades 7–9) and complete (grades 10–12) high school. Training is free and separate at all levels. Classes are conducted mainly in the Dari and Pashto languages, in places where national groups live densely - in their native language. School attendance is uneven across the country.

Students
Kabul University, opened in 1946, is the largest and most prestigious university educational institution countries. Due to fighting in the 1990s it was closed most of the time. There is also a small Nangarhar University named after. Bayazid Roshan (Jalalabad), Balkh University, Herat University, Kandahar University, as well as universities in Bamiyan, Badakhshan and Khost. Teaching at universities is conducted primarily in Dari. The Kabul State Medical Institute operates.

Sport– the national sport is buzkashi: Riders are divided into two teams, play in a field, each team tries to capture and hold a goat skin. Afghans are fond of football, field hockey, volleyball, basketball and especially pakhlavani (the local version of classical wrestling). Many Afghans play backgammon. Kite fighting is popular among teenagers. The Afghan national team participates in Olympic Games since 1936
Armed forces– divided into Afghan National Army(ANA) and the Afghan National Air Corps. Current armed forces Afghanistan were actually created anew with the help of US and NATO instructors.

Afghan National Army soldiers

Nature

The territory of Afghanistan is located in the northeastern part of the Iranian Plateau. A significant part is made up of mountains and valleys between them.

Mountain landscape

Eastern landscape

All rivers, with the exception of Kabul, which flows into the Indus, are drainless. Lowland rivers experience high water in the spring and dry up in the summer. Mountain rivers have significant hydropower potential. In many areas, the only source of water supply and irrigation is groundwater.
The depths of Afghanistan are rich in minerals, but their development is limited due to their location in remote mountainous areas.
There are deposits of coal and precious metals, beryllium ores, sulfur, table salt, marble, lapis lazuli, barite, and celestine. There are deposits of oil, natural gas, and gypsum. Copper, iron, and manganese ores have been explored.

Flora

In Afghanistan, dry steppe and desert landscapes predominate; dry steppes are common on the foothill plains and in intermountain basins. They are dominated by wheatgrass, fescue and other grasses. The lowest parts of the basins are occupied by takyrs and salt marshes, and in the southwest of the country - sandy and rocky deserts with a predominance of wormwood, camel thorn, tamarisk and saxaul. On the lower slopes of the mountains, thorny subshrubs (astragals, acantholimons) predominate in combination with juniper woodlands, groves of wild pistachio, wild almond and rose hips.

Wild pistachio in bloom
In the Indo-Himalayan region, steppes alternate with tree tracts of Indian palm, acacia, fig, and almond. Above 1500 m there are deciduous forests of evergreen balut oak with an undergrowth of almond, bird cherry, jasmine, buckthorn, sophora, and cotoneaster.

Figs
Walnut forests grow in some places on the western slopes, pomegranate groves on the southern slopes, and Gerard pine at altitudes of 2200–2400 m, which at altitudes is replaced by Himalayan pine with an admixture of Himalayan cedar and Western Himalayan fir.

Pomegranate Grove
In humid areas, spruce-fir forests are common, in the lower tier of which ash grows, and in the undergrowth - birch, pine, honeysuckle, hawthorn and currants. Juniper forests grow on the dry southern slopes. Above 3500 m thickets of dwarf juniper and rhododendron are common, and above 4000 m there are alpine and subalpine meadows.

Subalpine meadows
In the valley of the Amudarya River, tugai (floodplain) forests are widespread, in which poplar-turanga, jidda, willow, comb, and reed predominate. In the tugai of mountain rivers grow Pamir, white and laurel-leaved poplar, oleaster (an essential oil plant), tamarisk, sea buckthorn, and in the south - oleander.

Fauna

The fauna of Afghanistan is as diverse as the flora. In the open spaces of desert and steppe plains and plateaus, spotted hyenas, jackals, kulans (wild donkeys), goitered gazelle and saiga antelopes are found, in the mountains - leopard-irbis, mountain goats, mountain sheep-argali (Pamir argali, argali) and bears.

Kulans
In the tugai thickets along the river valleys one can find wild boar, jungle cat, and Turanian tiger. Steppe fox, stone marten and wolves are widespread and cause considerable damage to flocks of sheep.
In deserts and dry steppes there are many reptiles: monitor lizards, geckos, turtles, agamas (steppe pythons), snakes, poisonous snakes (viper, cobra, efa, copperhead).

Gecko
Deserts and steppes abound in rodents (marmots, gophers, voles, gerbils, hares, shrews). There are many poisonous and harmful insects: scorpions, karakurts (Central Asian poisonous spider), phalanges, locusts, etc.

Karakurt
The avifauna is rich - about 380 species. Common birds of prey include the kite, vulture hawk, kestrel, golden eagle, Himalayan vulture, and Indian laggar falcon. Wheatears, larks, and desert chickens are widespread in deserts. The southeastern regions are inhabited by the Bengal roller, snipe, southern dove, Himalayan jay, pika, and Indian mynah starling.

Laggar Falcon
Flamingos nest in the lakes south and east of Ghazni. Some species of mammals are endangered, incl. leopard, snow leopard, urial mountain sheep and Bactrian deer. To protect them in the beginning. In the 1990s, two wildlife sanctuaries and a national park were created. The rivers abound with commercial fish (asp, marinka, carp, catfish, barbel, trout).

Culture

The culture of Afghanistan covers four main periods of its development: pagan, Hellenistic, Buddhist and Islamic. Preserved monument Hellenistic period– Greco-Bactrian city, the ruins of which are located in the Afghan province of Kunduz at the confluence of the Amu Darya and Kokchi. The actual settlement dates back to the time of Seleucus Nicator and dates back to the turn of the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e. The city flourished in the 3rd-2nd centuries. BC e., when most of the buildings were erected. The destruction of the city is associated with the invasion of the nomadic Tocharian tribes into Bactria in the middle of the 2nd century. (around 135 BC). Since then, the city has never been restored.

Literatureis one of the cultural traditions of Afghanistan. Persian was the dominant language, so many works were created in Farsi. Recently, more and more works have appeared in Pashto and Turkic languages.

Kabul National Museum
Widely known in Afghanistan and beyond Kabul National Museum, created in 1919. It presented a collection of very rare examples of ancient and medieval art. During the Civil War, the museum was looted and is currently under restoration. Small museums have survived in some provincial centers of Afghanistan.

The traditional Afghan dance is attan.
Many historical monuments were destroyed during the civil war. And as a result of American bombing in the area of ​​​​the city of Ai-Khanum, unique three-meter clay statues, historical monuments of the 3rd-2nd centuries BC, were damaged and partially destroyed. e. The whole world knows the barbaric attitude of the Taliban towards the non-Islamic heritage of Afghanistan: monuments of Buddhist culture and the famous clay colossi were destroyed.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Afghanistan

Jam minaret

Unique, well-preserved minaret of the 12th century. in northwestern Afghanistan. Its height is more than 60 m. It is the second tallest historical baked brick minaret in the world after the Qutub Minar in Delhi.
Presumably, it is the only surviving building of the city of Firuzkuh, which was the capital of the sultans of the Ghurid dynasty before it was transferred to Ghazni. The city was destroyed by the army of Genghis Khan, and even its location was forgotten for a long time.

The first European to reach the minaret was the French archaeologist Andre Marik on August 19, 1957. Serious scientific research The monument has not yet been carried out due to inaccessibility and the ongoing unstable political situation.

Bamiyan Buddha statues

Two giant Buddha statues (55 and 37 m), part of a complex of Buddhist monasteries in the Bamiyan Valley. In 2001, despite protests from the world community and other Islamic countries, the statues were destroyed by the Taliban, who believed that they were pagan idols and should be destroyed.
The statues were carved into the rocks surrounding the valley, partly complemented by durable plaster held on by wooden fittings. The upper parts of the faces of the sculptures, made of wood, were lost in antiquity. In addition to the destroyed sculptures, in the monasteries of the valley there is another one, depicting a reclining Buddha; its excavations began in 2004.
The statues were destroyed in several stages over several weeks, starting on March 2, 2001. They were first attacked with anti-aircraft guns and artillery. This caused serious damage, but did not destroy them, because... the sculptures were carved into the rock. The Taliban then placed anti-tank mines at the bottom of the niche so that when rock fragments fell from artillery fire, the statues would be further damaged by the mines. Then the Taliban carried people down the cliff and planted explosives in the holes in the statues. After one of the explosions failed to completely destroy the face of one of the Buddhas, a rocket was launched, which left a hole in the remains of the stone head.

Other attractions of Afghanistan

Tora Bora

A fortified area of ​​the Afghan Mujahideen during the Afghan War (1979-1989), the radical Islamic movement "Taliban" and the international terrorist organization "Alqaeda" during the reign of the "Taliban regime" and the entry of troops of the Western anti-Taliban coalition "ISAF".

It is a labyrinth of tunnels, going to a depth of 400 m, with many galleries, storage facilities, living quarters and shelters, bunkers, weapons and ammunition depots. The total length of communications is more than 25 km. In December 2001, during a military operation against the Taliban movement, the complex was taken by the United Anti-Taliban Front with the support of the international coalition.

Kabul Zoo

The zoo was opened in 1967. Before the Civil War, there were more than 500 species of animals, but during this time it suffered greatly. The zoo is helped by animal lovers from other countries, in particular China and the USA.

Eid Gah Mosque

The second largest mosque of the 16th century. in Kabul.

Bande-Amir

One of the six lakes
A chain of six turquoise lakes located at an altitude of 3000 m in the Hindu Kush mountains. The lakes are separated by rocks made of calcareous tuff, which gives it a bright blue color.
It is one of the country's most popular attractions and is also Afghanistan's first national park.
There are many places of worship in the country.

Story

The first people appeared in Afghanistan about 5,000 years ago, and the rural communities of this region were among the first in the world.
It is believed that Zoroastrianism arose in what is now Afghanistan between 1800 and 800 AD. BC e., and Zarathustra lived and died in Balkh (a city in Afghanistan). By the middle of the 6th century. BC e. The Achaemenids incorporated Afghanistan into their Persian Empire.
Then the territory of Afghanistan became part of the empire of Alexander the Great, and after its collapse it became part of the Seleucid state until 305 BC. e. Buddhism became the dominant religion in the region.
The region then became part of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (until 125 BC).
In the 1st century Afghanistan was conquered by the Parthian Empire at the end of the 2nd century. – Kushan Empire. The Kushans were defeated by the Sassanids in the 3rd century. Until the 7th century. Afghanistan passed from one ruler to another several times.

Islamic and Mongol periods

In the 7th century The territory of western Afghanistan was conquered by the Arabs, who brought their culture and a new religion - Islam, which was finally established in the 10th century. In the same century, the Turks came to the country from Central Asia - the Ghaznavid Empire arose with its capital in the city of Ghazni. The flourishing of science and culture began.
In the 12th century. The local Afghan Ghurid dynasty strengthened, uniting Afghanistan and neighboring territories under its rule. At the beginning of the 13th century. The Gurids conquered Khorezm.
In the 13th century The region was invaded by the Mongol troops of Genghis Khan. In the second half of the 14th century. Afghanistan was part of Timur's empire, and after his death it was ruled by the Timurids, of whom the ruler of Kabul Babur, who founded the Mughal Empire, is especially famous. He was also a poet and writer.

In the 18th century The territory of Afghanistan was part of the Persian Empire of the Iranian Safavid dynasty. After the weakening of Persia and several uprisings, the Afghans managed to create a number of independent principalities - Kandahar and Herat. The Durrani Empire was founded in Kandahar in 1747 by the military commander Ahmad Shah Durrani. It became the first unified Afghan state. However, under his successors, the empire broke up into a number of independent principalities - Peshawar, Kabul, Kandahar and Herat.

Anglo-Afghan Wars

Located in the center of Eurasia, Afghanistan becomes an arena of struggle between two powerful powers of the time: the British and Russian empires. This struggle was called the “Great Game”. In order to control Afghanistan, the British Empire fought a series of wars, but was forced in 1919 to recognize the independence of Afghanistan.

Republic of Afghanistan

In 1973, a coup d'état took place in Afghanistan. The monarchy was abolished and a republic was proclaimed. But during this period, the country experienced extreme political instability. Attempts by President Mohammed Daoud to introduce reforms and modernize the country have failed.

April (Saur) Revolution

In April 1978, a revolution began in the country. President Muhammad Daoud was executed along with members of his family, and the communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan came to power.

Beginning of the Civil War

In the same year, 1978, it was proclaimed Democratic Republic Afghanistan. Nur Mohammed Taraki became the head of state. The government began to carry out radical reforms, but secularization (the process of reducing the role of religion in society) caused mass protests. The Civil War began. The ruling party PDPA (People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan) split into two factions that entered into a struggle for power. Nur Muhammad Taraki was killed and Hafizullah Amin became head of state. In the USSR he was considered an unreliable person, capable of reorienting himself to the West at any moment, so they decided to eliminate him.
The USSR intervened in the civil war to help the communist government. This war has not ended yet. The USSR invaded and occupied Afghanistan. After the assassination of Amin during the storming of the presidential palace by Soviet special forces, the post of chairman of the Revolutionary Council was taken by Babrak Karmal.
Against Soviet troops Afghan Mujahideen fought. Then they began to be supported by the USA, China and a number of other countries of the world. The ongoing resistance persuaded the USSR leadership to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
On May 4, 1986, B. Karmal was released “for health reasons.” On October 1, Mohammed Najibullah became the new chairman of the Revolutionary Council of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.

Soviet troops were withdrawn from the country in 1989. After the departure of Soviet troops (1989), Najibullah remained in power for another three years.

Units of the Soviet Army in Afghanistan

After the withdrawal of Soviet troops, the civil war did not end, but flared up with renewed vigor. In April 1992, rebels entered Kabul and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan ceased to exist. During the power struggle between Ahmad Shah Massoud and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the capital Kabul was shelled by artillery from the opposing sides, and a large number of cultural and historical monuments of the Afghan capital were destroyed. And in the south of the country the Taliban movement was gaining strength. The Taliban declared themselves defenders of the interests of the Afghan people. They wanted to build an Islamic state in Afghanistan based on Sharia law.

By 1996, most of the country came under their control; in September, after the capture of Kabul, Mohammed Najibullah was executed. The rule of the Taliban was characterized by religious intolerance towards people of other faiths: despite the protests of the world community, they blew up architectural monuments - the Bamiyan Buddha statues. They were very cruel: the hands of thieves were cut off, women and girls were forbidden to attend schools and be on the street unless accompanied by a man, etc.
Since the late 1980s, drug production in Afghanistan has begun to increase. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, international terrorist Osama bin Laden hid in Taliban Afghanistan. This was the reason for the US invasion of Afghanistan. During Operation Enduring Freedom, the Taliban regime fell by early 2002. But the Taliban movement was not completely broken. The main forces went to the mountainous regions of Waziristan, others switched to guerrilla warfare in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Republic of Afghanistan

In December 2001, at the Bonn Conference of Afghan Political Figures, Hamid Karzai was placed at the head of the transitional administration of Afghanistan, and then elected interim president of the country. In 2004, a new Constitution was adopted and the first presidential elections were held, which Hamid Karzai won.

But the civil war is still ongoing in the country, but with the participation of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF).

- a state in the southwest of Central Asia. In the north it borders with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, in the east - with China, India (the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir) and Pakistan, in the south - with Pakistan, in the west - with Iran.

The name of the country comes from the name of the legendary ancestor of the Afghans - Avgan.

Official name: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Capital: Kabul

The area of ​​the land: 647.5 thousand sq. km

Total Population: 28.4 million people

Administrative division: The state is divided into 29 provinces (wilayats) and 2 districts of central subordination.

Form of government: Islamic State.

Head of State: The president.

Population composition: 38% are Pashtuns, 25% are Tajiks, 19% are Khazars, 6% are Uzbeks.

Official language: Pashto and Dari.

Religion: Islam (85% - Sunni, 15% - Shia).

Internet domain: .af

Mains voltage: ~220 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +93

Climate

The climate of Afghanistan is continental (with significant temperature ranges), dry. Average temperatures (in Celsius) in January on the plains range from 0° to 8° C (absolute minimum -25° C). Average July temperatures on the plains are 24–32° C, and the recorded absolute maximum temperature is +45° C (in Girishk, Helmand Province). In Kabul, the average temperature in July is +25° C, in January – 3° C. The weather is usually clear and sunny during the day, and cool or cold at night.

The average annual precipitation is low: on the plains - about 200 mm, in the mountains - up to 800 mm. The rainy season on the plains of Afghanistan lasts from October to April. A specific moisture regime manifests itself in the southeast of the country, where the summer monsoons penetrate, bringing rainfall in July-August. Thanks to the monsoons, the annual rainfall reaches 800 mm. In the southwest, in Sistan, in some places there is no precipitation at all.

In deserts and arid plains, dry westerly winds often bring sandstorms, while the difference in air temperatures in the lowlands and in the mountains, as well as their sharp changes, causes the formation of strong local winds.

Geography

Afghanistan is located on the eastern flank of Southwest Asia, between 60°30 and 75°E longitude and 20°21 and 38°30N latitude. It has no access to the sea. The distance to the nearest sea coast (Persian Gulf) is 500 km.

In the west, Afghanistan borders with Iran (820 km), in the south and east - with Pakistan (2060 km) and India (about 120 km), in the north-east for a short distance - with the People's Republic of China (75 km), as well as with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan. The area of ​​the country is 655 thousand square meters. km

The length of the country from west to east is St. 1350 km, and from north to south St. 900 km. Afghanistan is a mountainous desert country located in the northeast of the Iranian Plateau, at its junction with the Central Asian mountain systems. In the northeast and in its center there are highlands and mountain ranges of medium height, bounded on the north, west and south by desert plains and plateaus.

Mountainous terrain occupies 80% of the country's territory.

Mountains: mountain systems - Hindu Kush (height 4-6 thousand m), Paropamiz (height up to 4 thousand m), South Turkestan Mountains (height up to 4 thousand m), Suleiman Mountains (height 3700 m), high mountain plateau Hazarajat (600-900 m). Plains - South Turkestan (along the left bank of the Amu Darya River to the Afghan-Iranian border), South Afghan.

Typical for southern Afghanistan are rocky deserts - Dashti (Dashti-Naumid, Dash-ti-Margo, etc.), which resemble the gammads of the Sahara. Sometimes there are saline clayey deserts - kevirs. Examples of kevirs in Afghanistan are the Namakzar and Gaudi-Zirra depressions. The sandy deserts of Garmsir and Registan stretch along the Pakistani border. Areas with clay soil are also widely represented, including takyrs, which are difficult to pass during rainy periods.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

The flora of Afghanistan is represented mainly by species of Iranian-Turanian origin; only in the extreme east do East Asian species begin to predominate. Total number There are at least 3.5 thousand plant species on the territory of Afghanistan, with the most richly represented families of Asteraceae, legumes, and cruciferous plants. Largest number endemic species belong to the genera Astragalus and Oxytropis. Ferula, Cousinia.

The vegetation of Afghanistan is highly diverse due to the country's significant latitudinal extent and the manifestation of altitudinal zonation. But almost everywhere, even in the southeastern region, which is influenced by the monsoons, the country's vegetation cover is characterized by one common feature- predominance of xerophytic, drought-resistant species.

The unfavorable combination of high summer temperatures with insufficient precipitation causes sparse vegetation cover. The plains are dominated by desert ephemeral vegetation, in the northern part of the country sedges and bluegrass predominate, in the southern part - saltwort and wormwood, and colocynths - wild bitter watermelons - are found. On the plateaus, the most common steppe vegetation consists of thorny cushions - astragalus, acantholimon, combined with juniper open forest and sparse pistachio thickets.

In the dry, hilly steppes of the foothills of Northern Afghanistan, rich herbaceous vegetation develops during the growing season. There are abundant pastures and hayfields of wheatgrass and bluegrass; in some places, thickets of wormwood with areas of bulbous bluegrass dominate, and there is a lot of camel thorn.

Forests (oak, Himalayan cedar, pine, spruce, fir) occupy less than 5% of the country's area, mainly in the mountains in the east. Forest areas have been preserved in inaccessible areas with poor roads.

In a number of areas in Afghanistan, the fishing of pistachio and edible Gerard pine nuts remains important. The latter resemble Siberian pine nuts, but have an elongated shape. They are sold fried in city bazaars. The population collects the fruits of wild bushes: barberry, sea buckthorn, blackberry, hazel, rose hips, and pomegranate. Walnut fruits are also collected in the forests, and rosin, resin, gum, honey, and wax are prepared.

Animal world

The fauna consists of the following species - ungulates (wild goats, sheep, gazelle, saiga), carnivores (snow leopard, leopard, wolf, fox, jackal), rodents, birds, reptiles, insects.

Of the ungulates, the wild ass kulan, goitered gazelle, and saiga live on the plains. Wild boars graze in tugai and pistachio forests. The mountains are home to wild goats and rams, including the wing-horned goat, which grazes on the inaccessible slopes, and the largest of the rams, the argali, adorned with magnificent curled horns.

Predators in the tugai thickets include the fox and the jungle cat; in the tugai forests of the Amu Darya there is still a tiger. There are bears in the forests of Nuristan. Wolves are common in all areas of Afghanistan. They are especially dangerous in winter, when in flocks they descend from the mountains and penetrate villages. Sheep flocks suffer greatly from wolves, for the protection of which local shepherds keep large dogs such as wolfhounds.

There are a lot of rodents in Afghanistan: porcupines, hares, jerboas, marmots, voles.

Some animals, in particular carnivores, are of commercial importance; their fur is exported. The population hunts ungulates mainly in winter, when there is less field work. The Muslim population considers boars to be “unclean animals” and does not consume their meat. Boars cause great damage to the farm, destroying crops.

Afghanistan lies on important bird migration routes. Late autumn and early spring are the main seasons for hunting birds, both waterfowl, common on the lakes of Sistan and in the valleys of North Afghan rivers (where there are also many pheasants), and birds of rocky habitats (partridges, bustards, desert chicken).

There are many reptiles in Afghanistan, including the gray monitor lizard, up to 1.5 m long, poisonous snakes: cobra, viper, efa, etc.

Among the many insects, malarial mosquitoes (residents of the Afghan-Turkestan Plain especially suffer from them), termites, which severely damage wooden structures, and arachnids: scorpions, tarantulas, karakurts, phalanges, argizid mites (spreaders of relapsing typhus). The fields of Afghanistan are subject to devastating locust attacks.

Attractions

Afghanistan is a very ancient country, first mentioned as part of Bactria in the chronicles of the 6th century BC. BC, when it was incorporated into the Persian Achaemenid Empire. Around 330 BC e. The territory of modern Afghanistan became part of the empire of Alexander the Great, after whose death it was under the rule of Greek, Indian, Iranian, Arab and Mongol rulers, who were replaced by a British protectorate.

It was on this land that Zoroastrianism was born, it was here, in the valleys of Bamiyan, that there was one of the centers of formation of Buddhism, it was here that the Muslim cities of the classical period flourished, giving the world many sages and poets. Therefore, the number of various historical monuments that this land stores is simply enormous.

Consisting of two huge mountain ranges, the Hindu Kush is one of the most majestic and beautiful mountain systems in the world. These beautiful mountains, valleys and lakes remain completely pristine and provide excellent hiking and mountaineering areas.

Currency

The monetary unit of Afghanistan is the Afghani, equal to 100 pulas.

Useful information for tourists

Due to the turbulent situation and destruction during the fighting, the country is not popular among foreign tourists.

Most of Afghanistan's territory is occupied by mountains. The Hindu Kush ridges stretch from east to west (up to 6729 m), including a belt of eternal snow. In the southern part of the country there is the Ghazni-Kandahar plateau, and on the northern and southwestern outskirts there are desert plains. The vegetation is highly diverse, but almost everywhere, even in the monsoon-influenced southeastern region, it is dominated by drought-resistant species. Only in the irrigated Jalalabad Valley do date palms, cypresses, olive trees, and citrus fruits grow.

First Afghan state entities arose in the 16th century. In 1747-1818 there was a Durrani state. In the 19th century, England made several attempts to subjugate Afghanistan (Anglo-Afghan Wars). These attempts ended in failure, but the British achieved control over foreign policy Afghanistan. In 1919, the government of Amanullah Khan declared the independence of Afghanistan. In July 1973, Afghanistan was declared a republic. In 1978, the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan carried out a coup d'état and proclaimed a course towards building socialism. A civil war began in the country. In 1979, Soviet troops were brought into Afghanistan to help the PDPA retain power. Soon after the withdrawal of Soviet troops (1989), the Mujahideen, supporters of the Islamic state, came to power in 1992. However, the civil war did not end there: contradictions between individual Islamic groups led to more and more new conflicts. In the mid-1990s, most of Afghanistan (including Kabul) came under the control of Taliban fundamentalists. In October 2001, the Taliban, accused of aiding global terrorism, was overthrown by US forces and their allies.

The capital is the ancient city of Kabul (1.4 million people), advantageously located at the crossroads of important transport routes. Other major cities are Mazar-i-Sharif, long known as a center of handicraft production and trade with a colorful oriental bazaar; ancient Herat is an oasis and cultural center, where the giant Juma Masjid mosque was erected in the 15th century. Afghanistan is an agricultural country whose economy has always been based on pastoralism. The war, which began in the late 1970s, caused enormous damage to the country's economy, significantly destroying the existing agricultural infrastructure and destroying hundreds of libraries, schools, and hospitals.

Afghanistan is known as a conflict-ridden and dangerous country where wars have been going on for decades. However, this was not always the case. The territory where Afghanistan is located has been inhabited by people since time immemorial and its history also included years of prosperity and well-being. Sciences, arts, and architecture developed here. They say that it was in its vastness that Zoroastrianism was born. Let's talk about this state in more detail.

Where is Afghanistan?

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan belongs to the Central Asian states. It covers an area of ​​652,864 km2. Its capital, Kabul, is also largest city in the country. Other significant settlements include Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Herat.

Afghanistan is located in the northeastern part. Mountain ranges and plateaus occupy the bulk of its area, leaving only 20% of the territory to the plains. The country has an arid climate, which is why most of it is represented by deserts and steppes.

The republic's neighbors include Iran, Pakistan, China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, which is disputed by other states. It is surrounded on all sides by other countries and has no access to the sea. Nevertheless, the territory where Afghanistan is located has always been of strategic importance. Situated between South Asia and the Middle East, it has often become a stumbling block between the two different worlds experiencing their influence.

Historical development and culture

Since the 17th century BC, the area where Afghanistan is located has been part of various kingdoms, khanates, kingdoms, republics and emirates. Repeatedly it came under the influence of neighboring territories, absorbing their cultural characteristics.

In the 6th century BC. e. the country was part of the Persian Empire, and part of its population spoke Iranian languages. According to one version, Zoroastrianism was formed here, adherents of which still exist in Afghanistan today. Ancient pagan sanctuaries are still preserved in Kandahar and Balkh.

Later, under the influence of the Bactrian and Parthian cultures, Buddhism spread throughout the country, taking a dominant position in the life of the population. This period left behind Buddhist monasteries and cave complexes (Bamiyan, Shotorak, Khazar Sum, Kunduz, etc.). At the same time, metalworking and stone cutting were actively developing. Archaeologists have discovered jewelry made of gold and silver, vessels, figurines, amulets, boxes and other objects made of various minerals in Afghanistan.

In the Middle Ages, Arabs and Turks came here, bringing Islam with them. Thanks to this, iconic architectural monuments appear, which are minarets and mosques. One of them, the Blue Mosque, is also a mausoleum that houses the remains of two revered saints of Islam.

Population

Afghanistan's location at the crossroads of different cultures and traditions was also reflected in its ethnic composition. The state is multinational; about 20 nationalities live within its borders, which belong to the Turkic, Mongolian, Iranian, Dar and Darvidian language groups.

The dominant ethnic group in Afghanistan are the Pashtuns, or Afghans, who make up approximately 40% of the total population. This is the only Iranian people with a tribal division. In total, they have about 60 tribes, headed by a “khan,” and several hundred clans, which are controlled by leaders, or maliks.

Another large ethnic group is represented by the Tajiks, who account for about 30% of the population. After them, the most numerous groups are the Hazaras and Uzbeks. In addition, the country is inhabited by Nuristanis, Baluchis, Tajiks, Pashais, Charaimaks, Brahuis and other nationalities.

The vast majority of residents profess Sunni Islam. In addition to them, the state is home to Shiite Muslims, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, Hindus and Baha'is.

War in Afghanistan

Over the past hundred years, there have been more than seven armed conflicts in the territory where Afghanistan is located. The modern war began in 2015, but in fact it is a continuation of the earlier conflict, which has been going on since 2001. Its main participants are Afghanistan, NATO and the United States on the one hand, and the Taliban and Haqqani Network on the other.

In the 90s, the Taliban regime was already in power, marked by particular cruelty and religious obsession. One of the goals of this group is to establish an ideal Islamic state with strict observance of all Sharia regulations. According to the beliefs of the Taliban, the following should be prohibited: the Internet, music and art, alcohol, other religions and much more. In 2001, they destroyed one of the most significant monuments of Buddhist culture - two huge Buddha statues carved into the rock.

The Taliban regime was eliminated in 2002. Today, its representatives operate underground, periodically carrying out terrorist attacks on civilians and coalition military personnel.

Economy

The state of Afghanistan has significant mineral reserves. Its depths are full of precious metal ores, deposits of oil, natural gas, copper and iron ores, coal and other resources.

Protracted wars, an unstable political situation and the lack of necessary infrastructure do not allow the development of mineral extraction and the industrial sector. Today, Afghanistan remains an underdeveloped agricultural country with one of the weakest economies in the world. The main exported goods are nuts, wool, dried fruits, carpets, precious stones, and opium. Afghanistan is one of the largest drug producers that supplies its products to EU countries and Eastern Europe. Poppy plantations are larger in size even than coca plantations in South American countries.

Economic and geographical position of Afghanistan

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is located in the Middle East, far from the seas.

The country's western border runs with Iran; in the north it borders with the former union republics of the USSR - Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

The eastern border lies with China, India, and Pakistan. The longest border with Pakistan is 2430 km.

Afghanistan is an ancient center of trade and migration between East and West.

The country occupies an important geopolitical position, located on the one hand between South and Central Asia, and on the other hand, the Middle East.

Note 1

Not only in the region, but also in the world, Afghanistan today is the most unstable state, and the factor of this instability is the civil war, which has been going on since 1978.

The Silk Road, which once passed through the country, is awaiting revival and Afghanistan does not lose its key importance in the new project, because new promising routes are opening up.

Rail transport is practically undeveloped. The only major railway channel in Afghanistan's trade was the transport corridor with Uzbekistan. It remains key today.

There are promising projects for the construction of railways through Afghanistan, which are supported by Tajikistan and Iran. One such project is already in operation, a railway from Iran to Afghanistan, built in 2008, where Iran was the only sponsor of its construction.

The road gives Iran access to mineral resources in western Afghanistan.

Iran and Tajikistan are leading the development of transport and infrastructure projects.

In addition to the construction of railways, it is planned to construct pipelines for pumping water and oil pipelines. Water in this region is a valuable resource.

This is extremely poor country entirely dependent on foreign aid

The bulk of the population engaged in agriculture produces opium, grain, fruits, and nuts. Industrial products include clothing, soap, shoes, fertilizers, cement, carpets, gas, coal, and copper production.

The country exports mainly what it produces Agriculture, as well as precious and semi-precious stones. In terms of exports, Afghanistan is connected with India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and the USA.

Being the world's main producer of opium, the country receives its main profit from its trade. The Taliban and other anti-government groups are involved in opium production.

The import item includes industrial goods, food, textiles, oil and petroleum products, the suppliers of which are Pakistan, USA, Germany, India.

Note 2

The economic and geographical position of the country is favorable, primarily because it is located at the intersection of routes running from east to west and borders on fairly developed countries of the world, but for objective reasons it cannot yet take advantage of this position to develop its economy.

Natural conditions of Afghanistan

The relief of Afghanistan is mountainous - it is the northeastern part of the Iranian Plateau.

The east of the country is crossed by the high ridges of the Hindu Kush, the height of which in this area is more than 4000-5000 m. The ridges stretch from southwest to northeast.

The highest point of Afghanistan, Mount Naushak (7485 m), is located on the border with Pakistan.

To the west of the Hindu Kush lies the inaccessible Hazarajat Highlands, more than 3,000 m high, from which lower ridges fan out to the west and southwest.

A vast plain is located in the north of Afghanistan, called Bactrian. It gradually turns into a sandy desert.

The Herat-Farakh plateau stretches along the border with Iran and goes to the extreme northwest. The height of the plateau is from 600 to 800 m.

Hilly plateaus up to 1000 m high are located in the southwest of Afghanistan.

The Afghan sandy deserts of Registan, Garmsir, and Dashti-Margo occupy large areas, which are closed in the extreme south by the Chagai Mountains. Among the mountains there are also oases. Several oases are confined to the weakly dissected Ghazni-Kandahar plateau. The largest of them is located in the vicinity of the city of Kandahar.

The country's subtropical continental climate is extremely varied and depends on the altitude. There is eternal winter on the peaks of the Hindu Kush.

Cool summers and long, cold winters with snow are characteristic of the mountain plateaus of central Afghanistan.

The climate is temperate in the mountain valleys, and on the plains the climate is hot - the average July temperature is +24...+32 degrees.

The absolute maximum was recorded in Helmand province +45 degrees. Summer lasts 4-5 months. The amplitude of day and night reaches 20 degrees.

Spring begins in February and ends in April. The rivers flood heavily at this time. In September autumn comes and with it rare rains.

The duration of the winter period is 2 months; in mountainous areas this is a very harsh time of year with strong snowstorms and deep snow cover.

The plains receive about 200 mm of precipitation throughout the year, the mountainous areas up to 800 mm. A special precipitation regime is typical for the southeast of the country - the summer monsoons penetrate here and heavy rainfall occurs in July-August. In some areas in the southwest of the country there is no precipitation at all.

Frequent sandstorms in deserts and arid plains are brought by a dry westerly wind.

Natural Resources of Afghanistan

In the mountains of Afghanistan, nature has created many mineral resources, but the lack of infrastructure and very difficult terrain limit their development.

In the depths of Afghanistan there are hydrocarbon reserves, the Sari-Pul oil field and the Shibergan gas field.

Several coal deposits - Karkar, Ishpushta, Darai-Suf, Karrokh.

There are salt-bearing structures, especially pronounced in the north of the country.

To the south of Kabul and Kandahar, industrial deposits of copper, iron, manganese, lead-zinc and tin ores are known. Chromium ores occur in the Logar valley, and beryl ores are mined in Nangarhar province.

There is a deposit of high-quality lapis lazuli and other precious and semi-precious stones, in particular such expensive ones as:

• emeralds,
• rubies,
• aquamarines.

Placer gold deposits have been discovered in Badakhshan and Ghazni.

It is possible to mine marble, talc, granite, dolomite, gypsum, limestone, amethyst, and jasper.

There are few deep rivers in Afghanistan, with the exception of the river. Kabul, flowing into the Indus and further into the Indian Ocean. Most of the country's rivers are lost in the sand or end in drainless lakes.

River water is taken to irrigate the fields, so they become shallow in the second half of summer. The Balkh and Khulm rivers, flowing along the Bactrian Plain in the north, have an inconsistent flow and in summer period dry out.

Mountain rivers are not navigable, but have significant hydropower potential.

There are few lakes; Sarykul in the Hindu Kush Mountains stands out among the large ones. Lakes in the western and southwestern parts of the country are also drying up. The largest salt lake is Hamun-i-Helmand, located on the border with Iran.

Chestnut soils, brown soils and gray soils have formed in the foothills and valleys. Where the mountain slopes are moist, chernozems and mountain meadow soils are found. Gray desert soils and solonchaks are distributed in the south and southwest of the country. The soils of oases are usually fertile.

In the plant world, the predominant species are wheatgrass and fescue, characteristic of dry steppes and deserts. In rocky and sandy deserts, wormwood, camel thorn, and saxaul predominate. The open spaces of deserts and steppe plains are inhabited by spotted hyenas, antelopes, goitered gazelles, saigas, and many reptiles.

In mountainous areas there are mountain goats, bears, and argali sheep. Along the river valleys you can meet wild boars, jungle cats, and Turanian tigers. Birds of prey include the kite, vulture hawk, golden eagle, Himalayan vulture, etc. To protect nature, two reserves and a national park were created in the late 90s.