Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. It is very mountainous, with the Hindu Kush range running through the center. Afghanistan sits at a crossroads where ancient trade routes once connected East and West.

Land and People

About 40 million people live in Afghanistan. The capital is Kabul. The country is mostly rugged mountains and dry valleys. The Hindu Kush mountains can be over 24,000 feet tall. Winters are cold and summers are hot.

Fancy gold belt showing a man riding a lion.
Fancy gold belt showing a man riding a lion. (No machine-readable author provided. World Imaging assumed (based on copyright claims). / Wikimedia Commons)

Culture and Fun Facts

Afghans eat naan bread with kabuli pulao, a rice dish with raisins and carrots. Buzkashi is a traditional horseback sport. Afghans are known for beautiful carpets and rugs woven by hand. The country has a history going back thousands of years.

Fun Facts

  • Afghanistan is sometimes called the Heart of Asia because of its central location.
  • Buzkashi is an Afghan sport played on horseback that is hundreds of years old.
  • The giant Buddhas of Bamiyan were carved into a cliff over 1,500 years ago.

Did You Know?

Afghan carpets are famous for their beautiful patterns and rich colors. Many are still made by hand, with families passing down weaving skills for generations. A single carpet can take months to make, with millions of tiny knots tied by hand.