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At first glance, the Band-e-Amir lakes hurt the eyes in the most amazing fashion.
CNN: Oasis from the ruins: Afghanistan opens first national park
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Such natural wonders make Band-e-Amir the perfect place to create Afghanistan's first national park, says Bamiyan Gov. Habiba Surabi.
NPR: Amid War, Afghanistan Builds Its First National Park
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In 2009, Afghanistan declared Band-e-Amir, a collection of six mineral-rich, piercingly blue lakes, a national park in hopes of protecting and promoting its landscape.
BBC: Birth and spread of the world��s national parks
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Unfortunately, Band-e-Amir is still hard to reach for most Afghans, let alone foreigners who may want to venture out to the area.
CNN: Oasis from the ruins: Afghanistan opens first national park
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"The name is park, the government is happy to call it a park, but it's not a park yet, " said Band-e-Amir resident Jaan Been.
CNN: Oasis from the ruins: Afghanistan opens first national park
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Efforts to make Band-e-Amir a national park began in the 1970s but were put on hold through the decades of war that ravaged the country.
CNN: Oasis from the ruins: Afghanistan opens first national park
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The lake region and its many streams, called Band-e-Amir, boast some of the most beautiful landscape in Afghanistan including crystal-clear waterfalls cascading over naturally formed dams that keep the lakes in place.
NPR: Amid War, Afghanistan Builds Its First National Park