Samangan
(Persian: سمنگان) is one of the thirty-four provinces of
Afghanistan. It is in the north of the country bordered
by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The province covers 6,425
square miles and has a population of approximately
406,000 people.
Its capital Samangan is known for its ancient ruins
including notably the Takht e Rustam. Archaeologists are
desperate to work in this province as wars and the
Taliban have destroyed many of these artifacts.
A series of earthquakes struck the province on March 3,
2002, causing the loss of thousands of lives and homes.
Nowadays people call the province Samangan, but the
capital town of the province is Aybak.
