Place:Helmand, Afghanistan

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NameHelmand
Alt namesEtymandersource: Webster's Geographical Dictionary (1988) p 498
Helmandsource: Wikipedia
Helmundsource: Webster's Geographical Dictionary (1988) p 498
TypeProvince
Coordinates31.0°N 64.0°E
Located inAfghanistan
Contained Places
District
Baghran
Gerishk
Inhabited place
Baghran Khowleh
Bahram Chah
Biabanak
Deshu
Garm Ab
Gereshk
Kuchnay Darvishan
Landay
Lashkargah
Musa Qaleh
Now Zad
Yakchāl
source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names


the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Helmand (Pashto/Dari: ; ), also known as Hillmand, in ancient times, as Hermand and Hethumand,[1] is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, in the south of the country. It is the largest province by area, covering area. Also, geographically and politically it is known as one of the important provinces in Afghanistan specially for Taliban because its climate is suitable for the cultivation of a wide range of crops, including the opium that contributes greatly to the Taliban's finances. The province contains 13 districts, encompassing over 1,000 villages, and roughly 1,446,230 settled people.[2] Lashkargah serves as the provincial capital.

Helmand was part of the Greater Kandahar region until made into a separate province by the Afghan government in the 20th century. The province has a domestic airport (Bost Airport), in the city of Lashkargah that was heavily used by NATO-led forces. The former British Camp Bastion and the U.S. Camp Leatherneck is a short distance southwest of Lashkargah.

The Helmand River flows through the mainly desert region of the province, providing water used for irrigation. The Kajaki Dam, which is one of Afghanistan's major reservoirs, is located in the Kajaki district. Helmand is believed to be one of the world's largest opium, producing regions, responsible for around 42% of the world's total production. This is believed to be more than the whole of Myanmar, which is the second-largest producing nation after Afghanistan. The region also produces tobacco, sugar beets, cotton, sesame, wheat, mung beans, maize, nuts, sunflowers, onions, potato, tomato, cauliflower, peanut, apricot, grape, and melon.[3]

Before the Taliban took over Afghanistan, Helmand Province was a hotbed of insurgent activities. It has been considered to be Afghanistan's "most dangerous" province. Additionally, it is considered to be one of Afghanistan's most socially conservative areas.

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