Afghanistan

[Bogen]

In a high valley northwest of Bamian is an astonishing spectacle, something that seems miraculous in the dry wilderness: a chain of brilliant blue and green lakes. These are the Band-i-Amir, the Jewels of the King. No Amethysts and Emeralds were ever more dazzling.

 

I saw a poster of this marvelous geologic feature in the Bamiyan valley of Afghanistan while I was at a place called the "Afghan Horseman" in Vancouver at Cambie and Broadway. (great restaurant!).

 

It is apparently formed of "precipitated tufa from the mineral salts in the water that runs over and constantly builds up the edge."

It looks cool I'd like to go there. Unfortunately, according to the Afghan restaurant owner, there is not much left of old Afghani culture to see, thanks to the Taliban.

Edited March 3, 2005 by Bogen