Balkh Province
Balkh (Dari: بلخ, romanized: Balx) is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in the north of the country. It is divided into 15 districts and has a population of about 1,509,183, which is multi-ethnic and mostly a Persian-speaking society. The city of Mazar-i-Sharif serves as the capital of the province. The Mazar-i-Sharif International Airport and Camp Marmal sit on the eastern edge of Mazar-i-Sharif.
Balkh
بلخ | |
|---|---|
Province | |
From the top, Blue Mosque, Kholm Fortress, Tashkurgan Palace, Sholgara District, Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Friendship Bridge | |
Map of Afghanistan with Balkh highlighted | |
| Coordinates: 36°45′N 67°0′E | |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Capital | Mazar-i-Sharif |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Muhammad Yousuf Wafa (Acting) |
| • Deputy Governor | Noorul Huda |
| • Police Chief | Matiullah |
| Area | |
| • Total | 16,186.3 km2 (6,249.6 sq mi) |
| Population (2021) | |
| • Total | 1,543,464 |
| • Density | 95/km2 (250/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+4:30 (Afghanistan Time) |
| Postal code | 17xx |
| ISO 3166 code | AF-BAL |
| Main languages | Persian, Pashto, Turkmen and Uzbek |
Balkh, also called Vazīrābād, the name of the province is derived from the ancient city of Balkh, near the modern town. The city of Mazar-e-Sharif has been an important stop on the trade routes from the Far East to the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Europe. Home to the famous blue mosque, it was once destroyed by Genghis Khan but later rebuilt by Timur. The city of Balkh and the area of Balkh Province were considered a part of various historical regions in history including Ariana and Greater Khorasan.
The province serves today as Afghanistan's second but main gateway to Central Asia, the other being Sherkhan Bandar in the Kunduz Province. Balkh Province borders Jowzjan, Sar-e Pol, Samangan and Kunduz provinces, and the Surxondaryo Region of Uzbekistan to the north.