Afghanistan

= Afghanistan =

History
|| **700's** || Afghanistan conquered by Islam forces || || **1218** || Genghis Khan conquers the country || || **1400's** || Tamerlane conquered the country || || **1839** || 1839–1842 Anglo-Afghan war || || **1878** || 1878–1880 Anglo-Afghan war || || **1893** || Great Britain established an unofficial border separating Afghanistan from British India || || **1919** || Afghanistan became independent || || **1926** || Emir Amanullah founded an Afghan monarchy || || **1950's** || Afghanistan developed close ties with the Soviet Union during the cold war || || **1978** || Military coup Afghanistan became a Marxist regime || || **1979** || Russia launched an invasion of Afghanistan || || **1989** || Soviet withdrawal || || **1992** || Islamic rebellion || || **1996** || A number of Islamic students calling itself the Taliban seized control of Kabul || || **1996** || The Taliban took over the government of Afghanistan but the government was only recognised by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates || || **1998** || August 20, 1998, U.S. cruise missiles struck a terrorist training complex believed to have been financed by Osama bin Laden || || **2001** || September 2001 anti-Taliban guerrilla leader Ahmed Shah Masoud of the Northern Alliance was killed by suicide bombers || || **2001** || September 11 - Taliban terrorists - al-Qaeda members - attacked the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon || || **2001** || October 7 - The Taliban refused to turn over Bin Laden and the U.S. and its allies began air strikes against Afghan military installations || || **2001** || December 7 - the Taliban regime collapsed || || **2001** || December: Afghanistan interim government formed || || **2002** || June : Hamid Karzai became President || || **2002** || Peacekeeping forces enter the country || || **2003** || March: US Offensive against Kandahar and al-Qaeda members || || **2003** || August : NATO assumed command of peacekeeping troops || || **2004** || January 4: New constitution introduced || || **2004** || April: US Offensive along the Pakistan border against al-Qaeda members. || || **2005** || 2005 February - Hundreds of people are killed due to the harsh winter weather || || **2005** || 2005 May - Alleged prisoner abuse by US forces at detention centres. || || **2005** || 2005 September - First parliamentary elections in more than 30 years. || || **2006** || 2006 February - International donors pledge more than $10bn in reconstruction aid over a period of five years. || || **2006** || 2006 May - Violent anti-US protests in Kabul || || **2006** || 2006 May-June - Battles between Taleban fighters and Afghan and coalition forces || || **2006** || 2006 July onwards - Nato troops take over the leadership of military operations in the south || ** The meaning of Afghanistan flag: ** **Black** : Darkness of the past history of Afghanistan
 * ** 334BC ** || Alexander the Great used the country of Afghanistan as the gateway to India ||

**Red** : Blood shed and war in the history of Afghanistan

**Green** : Hope, Prosperity, and a Bright future. Symbo l:The two branches of wheat on Afghanistan flag emblem comes from the time oflegend. The emblem consists of an Arabic religious inscription. The Afghanistan flag has been changed 23 times.



Major Cities & Location The capital of Afghanistan is Kabuel, and it is the largest city in Afghanistan with the estimated population of 3.000.000 people. Herat is the next most populated city estimated with a population of 349,000 people. Kandahar i s the third largest city with the estimated population of 324,800 people. Afghanistan's surrounding countries are Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Iran.

Afghanistan is in the northern hemisphere. It is part of southern Asia in the middle east. It is slightly smaller than Texas with a land area of 652,230 Km and has a water area of 0 Km.  Lakes, Rivers, & Seas There are no seas in Afghanistan let alone lakes. The "Lakes" are too small to be fully qualified as a lake. But there are a few rivers such as.. ** Kabul: ** An exception among Afghan rivers, Kabul river is always full of water. It flows east into Pakistan to merge into the Indus River. ** Amu Darya: ** This river, located on the norther border, is the country's only largely navigable river. ** Harirud River: ** Harirud River moves to west and north-west direction where the border with Iran exists. ** Helmand River: ** It is one of the longest rivers in Afghanistan. This river is also widely used for irrigation. Afghanistan's 10 major Mountain Ranges


 * ~  ||~ Name ||~ Elevation ||~ Latitude/Longitude ||
 * < 1 ||< [|Noshaq], Badakhshan ||> 7,482 m ||< [|36.432 / 71.83] ||
 * < 2 ||< [|Kūh-e Bandaka], Badakhshan ||> 6,812 m ||< [|36.179 / 70.983] ||
 * < 3 ||< [|Kōh-e Bandakā], Badakhshan ||> 6,812 m ||< [|36.179 / 70.983] ||
 * < 4 ||< [|Kōh-e Tūlōksā], Nūrestān ||> 6,435 m ||< [|35.866 / 71.081] ||
 * < 5 ||< [|Pīr Yakhhā-ye Darah Sakhī], Badakhshan ||> 6,414 m ||< [|36.23 / 70.966] ||
 * < 6 ||< [|Sakar Sar], ||> 6,271 m ||< [|36.895 / 74.25] ||
 * < 7 ||< [|Qal‘ah-ye Sorkhī], Badakhshan ||> 6,171 m ||< [|36.142 / 70.985] ||
 * < 8 ||< [|Kōh-e Mēnjān], Nūrestān ||> 6,130 m ||< [|35.891 / 71.064] ||
 * < 9 ||< [|Kōh-e Sar-e Tund], Badakhshan ||> 6,001 m ||< [|35.75 / 70.481] ||
 * < 10 ||< [|Kūh-e Yazhmi], Badakhshan ||> 5,989 m ||< [|35.807 / 70.69] ||



Climate & Weather
 * Afghanistan** is a mountainous country in a dry part of the world which has extremes of climate and weather. Winters are cold and snowy, and summers hot and dry. The wet season generally runs from winter through early spring, but the country on the whole is dry, falling within the Desert climate classification. Very little snow falls, but the snow season averages roughly October-April in the mountains and varies considerably with elevation.

This graph shows Afghanistan's Capitol's Climate Economy Natural Resources Natural gas Petroleum Coal Copper Chromite Talc Barites Sulfur Lead Zinc Iron ore Salt Precious and semiprecious stones

[[image:images.jpeg]][[image:salt.jpg width="240" height="174"]][[image:petroleum1284507500.jpg width="240" height="154"]]
Currency Afghanistans currency is called an Afghani. The first afghani was made in 1925, replacing the rupee. Agriculture The major food crops produced are: corn, rice, barley, wheat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, cotton, tobacco, madder, castor beans, and sugar beets. 85% of Afghans are dependent on agriculture.

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Culture

Population: 29,835,392 Major languages spoken: Afghan Persian or Dari 50%, Pasto 35%, Uzbek and Turkmen 11%, 30 minor languages 4% Major religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shia Muslim 19%, other 1%