Political
Current Governor: Atta Muhammad Noor
Presidential Candidate(s): None
Provincial Council Candidates: Information not yet available
Registered Voters: Information not yet available
Geography
Location: In northern Afghanistan and borders Kunduz, Samangan, Sar-e Pol and Jowzjan provinces as well as the states of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Size: 17,249 sq kilometers (6,660 sq miles)
Districts: 15 districts – Balkh, Charbolak, Charkint, Chimtal, Dawlatabad, Dihdadi, Kaldar, Khulm, Kishindih, Marmul, Mazar-e Sharif, Nahri Shahi, Sholgara, Shortepa, Zari
Capital: Mazar-e Sharif
Topography: About half of the province is mountainous or semi-mountainous terrain and the other half is flatland. The southern, more mountainous, area is home to part of the Hindu Kush range and holds most of the province’s water including the KashindaDaulat Abad Water Basin and the Khulm Water Basin farther in the east, which originates in Samangan province. The northern part of the province marks the beginnings of the Central Asian steppe.
Climate: Highland, Semi-arid
Demographics
Population Size: 1.2 million
Ethnicities: Tajik, Hazara, Pashtun, Arab, Uzbek, Turkmen
Miscellaneous
Balkh is named after the historic city of Balkh, which was the center of Zoroastrianism. It is home to the Blue Mosque, which was famously destroyed by the Mongols and then rebuilt by Timur. Thousands of years ago, the area was known as "Bactria" and was conquered by Alexander the Great. Bactria later became an empire on its own, and then a major trade post on the silk road. The province today has an affinity for sports, with the traditional Buzkashi being especially popular, but also modern sports such as football.