Aimaq, meaning tribe in Turkish, is not an ethnic domination,
but differentiates seminomadic herders and agricultural tribal
groups of various ethnic origins, including the Turkic Hazara
and Baluch, that were formed in the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries. They live among nontribal people in the western areas
of Badghis, Ghor and Herat provinces. They are Sunni, speak dialects
close to Dari and refer to themselves with tribal designations.
Population estimates vary widely, from less than 500,000 to around
800,000. A group of about 120,000 live in Iranian Khorasan.
Country
name Afghanistan conventional long form Islamic State of
Afghanistan conventional short form Afghanistan local long
form Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan local short form Afghanestan former Republic of Afghanistan
Area
- total: 647,500 sq km land: 647,500 sq km water: 0 sq km
Terrain
- mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Climate
- arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Geography
- landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide
the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in
the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)
Waterways
- 1,200 km note: chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT (2001)
Natural hazards - damaging earthquakes
occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts
Information
Courtesy: The Library of Congress - Country Studies
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