River of dreams

After years of violence, Afghanistan may seem like an unlikely tourist hotspot, but, in a bid to attract more visitors, a collection of stunning mountain lakes in the country's peaceful central highlands have been earmarked as the first National Park...

Between mountains in the Hindu Kush range lie six, crystal clear, sky blue lakes, which are the lifelines of 15 villages.

The lake region and its many streams - called Band-e-Amir - boast some of the most beautiful landscape in Afghanistan with waterfalls cascading over naturally calcified dams that keep the lakes in place.

The lakes were a popular tourist attraction before the Taliban came to power and lie in Bamiyan province, which has been relatively unaffected by the violence that plagues Eastern and Southern Afghanistan.

Country officials are now taking the step to protect one of Afghanistan's finest national treasures by signing a decree to create Band-e-Amir National Park.

The Head of the country's National Environmental Protection Agency said that it was hoped this national park status, which gives areas the highest rights of protection, will draw tourists back to the beautiful lakes and consider Afghanistan as a place to visit once more.

The signing of the decree makes Band-e-Amir a provisional national park - but Parliament must ratify the legislation for the Change in status to become permanent.

The aid arm of the US Government spent almost £681,000 to help the lakes gain provisional national park status.

Peter Smallwood, the Country Director for the Wildlife Conservation Society, which helped prepare the area for national park status, said, "Making Band-e-Amir a national park would give the four park rangers, who now patrol the area's shores, more enforcement powers to protect the lakes."

A planned, paved road will make Band-e-Amir more accessible, although it could take years to build.

Picture by wikipediacommons