Afghanistan

Afghanistan officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the east and south, Iran to the west, Turkmenistan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, Tajikistan to the northeast, and China to the northeast and east. Occupying 652,864 square kilometers (252,072 sq mi) of land, the country is predominantly mountainous with plains in the north and the southwest, which are separated by the Hindu Kush mountain range. Kabul is the country's capital and largest city. 

Did you know that:
1. Afghanistan has changed its national flag over 20 times (with some sources citing up to 30 variations) in roughly 100 years since gaining independence in 1919. 
2. Many Afghans, particularly those born during decades of conflict, use January 1st as a default, "de facto" birthday on official documents like passports, visas, and digital accounts. This practice stems from a lack of recorded, standardized birth dates in the Afghan calendar and the need for a convenient date to fill in forms.
3. Arabic is not the official language in Afghanistan.The official languages are Pashto and Dari (Afghan Persian. While Arabic is not a native or widely spoken language in the country, it is used for religious purposes and is a minority language spoken by a small percentage of the population.
4. In Afghanistan, Afghan refers to the people, and Afghani (AFN) is the currency.
5. Buzkashi, which translates to "goat grabbing," is the traditional national sport of Afghanistan. It is a rugged, ancient equestrian game where horse-mounted players, known as chapandaz, compete to grab a headless goat or calf carcass and carry it to a designated scoring circle.
6. The term “Afghan” is derived from the word “Asvakan,” meaning “horsemen” or “horse breeders.”
7. Scientists have confirmed that the world's oldest oil paintings, dating to the mid-7th century AD, were discovered in the caves behind the destroyed Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan. These murals, featuring intricate scenes and mythical figures, predate the widespread use of oil paint in Europe by centuries.
8. Afghans celebrate their new year, Nowruz (meaning "New Day"), on 21 March, the first day of spring.
9. Afghanistan is a critical, though threatened, home to the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia). These elusive cats, often called "ghosts of the mountains," inhabit the high, rugged mountain landscapes of northeastern Afghanistan, particularly in the remote Wakhan Corridor and parts of the Hindu Kush range.