Badakhshan Province facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Badakhshān
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|---|---|
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| Country |  Afghanistan |
| Government | |
| • Type | Provincial government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 44,059 km2 (17,011 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Estimate
(2011-2012)
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889,700 |
| Demographics | |
| • Ethnicities | Tajik, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Pashtun |
| • Languages | Persian, Pamiri, Pashto, Kyrgyz, Uzbek |
| Time zone | UTC+4:30 |
Badakhshan (which means "Badakhshān" in Persian) is one of the 34 provinces in Afghanistan. A province is like a large region or state within a country. Badakhshan has 28 different areas called Districts. Its capital city is Feyzabad. This province is in the north-east part of Afghanistan. It sits between the Hindu Kush mountains and the Amu Darya river.
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Exploring Badakhshan's Geography
Badakhshan is a province with lots of mountains. It covers a huge area of about 44,059 square kilometers. Most of this land is covered by the Hindu Kush and Pamir mountain ranges.
Where is Badakhshan Located?
To the north and east, Badakhshan shares borders with two provinces in Tajikistan: Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province and Khatlon Province. There's also a narrow strip of land called the Wakhan Corridor in the east. This corridor connects Afghanistan to China.
Life and Economy in Badakhshan
Badakhshan is known as one of the poorest areas in the world. People here often struggle to find ways to earn money.
What Resources Does Badakhshan Have?
One special resource found in Badakhshan is Lapis lazuli. This is a beautiful blue stone that has been mined in the Sar-e-Sang area for more than 6,000 years! For a very long time, these mines were the biggest and most famous source of lapis lazuli in the world.
Who Lives in Badakhshan?
About 889,700 people live in Badakhshan province. Most of the people living here are Tajiks. They mostly speak a form of Persian called Dari.
What Religions are Practiced?
Most of the people in Badakhshan follow the Sunni branch of the Islamic faith.
Districts of Badakhshan Province
Badakhshan is divided into 28 smaller areas called districts. Each district has its own capital or main town.
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| District | Map # | Capital | Population | Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arghanj Khwa | 6 | 12,000 | Created in 2005 within Fayzabad District | ||
| Argo | 6 | 45,000 | Created in 2005 within Fayzabad District | ||
| Baharak | 7 | Baharak | 14,000 | Sub-divided in 2005 | |
| Darayim | 6 | 65,000 | Created in 2005 within Fayzabad District | ||
| Darwaz | 1 | Nusay | 21,000 | Sub-divided in 2005 | |
| Darwazi Bala | 1 | 11,000 | Created in 2005 within Darwaz District | ||
| Fayzabad | 6 | Fayzabad | 46,000 | Sub-divided in 2005 | |
| Ishkashim | 8 | Ishkashim | 11,000 | ||
| Jurm | 10 | 3,000 | Sub-divided in 2005 | ||
| Khash | 10 | 48,000 | Created in 2005 within Jurm District | ||
| Khwahan | 2 | Khwahan | 14,000 | Sub-divided in 2005 | |
| Kishim | 9 | 63,000 | Sub-divided in 2005 | ||
| Kohistan | 7 | 12,000 | Created in 2005 within Baharak District | ||
| Kuf Ab | 2 | 16,000 | Created in 2005 within Khwahan District | ||
| Kuran wa Munjan | 11 | Kuran wa Munjan | 8,000 | ||
| Ragh | 4 | Ragh | 37,000 | Sub-divided in 2005 | |
| Shahri Buzurg | 5 | Shahri Buzurg | 42,000 | ||
| Shighnan | 3 | 24,000 | |||
| Shiki | 6 | 26,000 | Created in 2005 within Fayzabad District | ||
| Shuhada | 7 | 31,000 | Created in 2005 within Baharak District | ||
| Tagab | 6 | 22,000 | Created in 2005 within Fayzabad District | ||
| Tishkan | 9 | 23,000 | Created in 2005 from Kishim District | ||
| Wakhan | 13 | 13,000 | |||
| Warduj | 7 | 17,000 | Created in 2005 within Baharak District | ||
| Yaftali Sufla | 6 | 39,000 | Created in 2005 within Fayzabad District | ||
| Yamgan | 7 | 20,000 | Created in 2005 within Baharak District | ||
| Yawan | 4 | 27,000 | Created in 2005 within Ragh District | ||
| Zebak | 12 | Zebak | 7,000 |
Sports in Badakhshan
Badakhshan province has its own cricket team. This team plays in the cricket competitions held within Afghanistan.
Famous People from Badakhshan
Many important people have come from Badakhshan. Here are a few:
- Burhanuddin Rabbani - He was a leader of a political group called Jamiat-e Islami. He also used to be the president of Afghanistan.
- Tahir Badakhshi - He was a political activist, meaning he worked to bring about political change.
- Latif Pedram - Another political activist who ran for president of Afghanistan.
- Mahboobullah Kushani - Also a political activist and a candidate for Afghanistan's presidency.
- Mohammad Wali (Prime Minsiter) - He served as a Prime Minister under King Amanullah Khan.
- Shah Wali Taranasaz - A talented musician.
- Nasratullah Nasrat - An Afghan cricketer.
More About Badakhshan
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Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province,  Tajikistan |
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| Takhar Province |  |
 Xinjiang, China |
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 Badakhstan Province  |
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| Panjshir Province | Nuristan Province | Gilgit-Baltistan,  PakistanKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
Images for kids
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Noshaq (or Nowshak) is the second highest peak in the Hindu Kush mountains. It is Afghanistan's highest mountain and sits on the border with Pakistan.
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A view of the Kuran wa Munjan valley in Badakhshan.
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A map showing the districts of Badakhshan before 2005.
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Children in Badakhshan province.
See also
In Spanish: Provincia de Badajshán para niños
