Afghanistan: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a landlocked country where South Asia meets Central Asia. The high Hindu Kush mountains run across its middle, with dry plains and deserts to the north and south. It sits on old Silk Road trade routes and is known for deep-blue lapis lazuli and ancient monuments.

About Kabul

Kabul sits in a narrow valley among the Hindu Kush mountains, about 1,790 metres above sea level, making it one of the world's highest capitals. Believed to be more than 3,500 years old, it is known for the Gardens of Babur.

Fun facts about Afghanistan

1. Band-e Amir became Afghanistan's first national park in 2009, protecting a chain of six intensely blue lakes.
2. Buzkashi, Afghanistan's national sport, is a rough-and-tumble game played by teams of riders on horseback.
3. The Minaret of Jam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a 65-metre brick tower built in the 12th century in a remote mountain valley.
4. Deep-blue lapis lazuli has been mined at Sar-i Sang in Badakhshan for more than 6,000 years.
5. Afghanistan's highest point is Noshaq, a peak in the Hindu Kush that rises 7,492 metres above sea level.
6. The Wakhan Corridor is a narrow strip of land about 350 km long that reaches all the way to China.