The Afghan-New Mexican Landscape: A Study In Geographical Similarities

New Mexico has been used as a filming location for Afghanistan in several films and TV shows. The landscapes of both places share similar features, including deserts and mountains. For example, the war film 'Lone Survivor' starring Mark Wahlberg, which is based on a failed 2005 mission to capture a Taliban commander, was filmed in New Mexico. Similarly, Tina Fey's film 'The Taliban Shuffle' was also filmed in New Mexico, as it was considered safer than filming in Morocco.

Mountainous landscapes

Afghanistan and New Mexico both have impressive mountainous landscapes. Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South-Central Asia, with the Hindu Kush mountains forming a barrier between its northern provinces and the rest of the country. The Hindu Kush is considered a logical extension of the Himalayan Mountains, with Mount Noshaq as its highest peak, at 7,492 metres. The country has 1,596 named mountains, with mountains covering as much as 80% of the land.

New Mexico, located in the southwestern region of the United States, is also home to impressive mountain ranges. The Rocky Mountains run through the northern part of the state, while the Chihuahuan Desert dominates the south. The Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, and Zuni ranges are significant mountain ranges in New Mexico. The state has 2,940 named mountains, with Wheeler Peak being the tallest, at 4,013 metres.

The mountain ranges of Afghanistan and New Mexico have served as backdrops for films such as "Lone Survivor", starring Mark Wahlberg, which was filmed in New Mexico. The state's mountains also provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and climbing. The Sangre de Cristo Mountains in New Mexico offer over 1,000 miles of trails, while the Sandia Peak Tramway in the Sandia Mountains offers a unique way to experience the landscape.

Afghanistan's mountains, on the other hand, present a different set of opportunities and challenges. The country attracts adrenaline junkies who seek the thrill of conquering hostile wild mountain peaks. The Bamyan province, located in the Hindu Kush range, is considered the best place in the country for alpine skiing. The Afghan Ski Challenge championship tests competitors' strength and endurance on both downhill and uphill courses. The country also offers freeriding opportunities, but it is highly recommended to explore off-the-beaten-track routes with a local guide to avoid potential dangers.

Both Afghanistan and New Mexico boast diverse and dramatic mountainous landscapes that have captured the imagination of filmmakers, adventurers, and nature enthusiasts alike.

Desert landscapes

Afghanistan and New Mexico share some similarities in their desert landscapes. Both regions feature arid climates with scarce rainfall, particularly in their lowlands. The desert areas of Afghanistan and New Mexico also showcase the transformative power of human settlement.

Afghanistan's desert landscapes vary across the country. The southwestern plateau, covering about 50,000 square miles, is characterised by high plateaus, sandy deserts, and semi-deserts. The Rīgestān region, which makes up a quarter of the southwestern plateau, is particularly noteworthy for its sandy terrain. Other notable desert areas in Afghanistan include the Registan desert and the Mārgow Desert, known for its salt flats and desolate steppe landscape.

Afghanistan's desert landscapes have been significantly altered by human activity. For instance, in the region north of the Boghra Canal, an area that was once nothing but sand has been transformed by settlers like Mohammed Khan, who, taking advantage of the collapse of the Taliban regime, claimed government land as his own. Khan and other settlers dug wells, cultivated crops, and raised livestock, making the desert their home. This influx of people has had environmental consequences, with deeper wells powered by solar technology now draining the water table.

New Mexico's desert landscapes offer a diverse range of scenery, from the iconic White Sands National Park to the rugged Organ Mountains near Las Cruces. The state's deserts provide a backdrop for outdoor activities such as mountain biking and hiking, as well as film productions like Mark Wahlberg's "Lone Survivor," which doubled New Mexico for Afghanistan.

New Mexico's deserts have also been shaped by human intervention. For example, the desert around Albuquerque was home to the popular crime drama "Breaking Bad," and the city has since seen an increase in its TV incentive programme. Additionally, the border between New Mexico and Mexico features the controversial iron border wall, which has become a tourist attraction of sorts, appearing in many stock photos of the region.

Trade routes

Trade between the US, Canada, and Mexico mostly takes place over land, with the US containing most of the trade routes between the three countries. Trucks from Mexico travel north through Texas and Oklahoma to Kansas City, from where goods can be transported into Canada by continuing north or going northeast to reach more populated areas of Canada. Interstate highways that facilitate these routes include I-35, I-29, I-81, and soon I-69.

The Laredo/Nuevo Laredo Port of Entry is one of the most important ports of entry for all US trade. In 2012, it ranked sixth in the US in terms of the value of trade, with a total trade value of 163 billion dollars. Six of the top ten trade ports of entry between Mexico and the US are located in Texas.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has resulted in a substantial increase in trade between the US and Mexico. In 2012, the value of US-Mexico trade reached over 390 billion dollars, up from 97 billion in 1995. Texas, California, and Michigan have been the top three states for US-Mexico trade throughout this period, with the top five states consistently accounting for two-thirds or more of the total trade.

The US is Mexico's most important trading partner, and US-based companies account for more than half of Mexico's foreign investment. The US is the source of between two-fifths and one-half of Mexican imports and the destination for about four-fifths of the country's exports. In contrast, trade with Mexico represents only about one-tenth of total US trade.

Mexico's major exports include machinery and transport equipment, steel, electrical equipment, chemicals, food products, and petroleum and petroleum products. About four-fifths of Mexico's petroleum is exported to the US, which relies heavily on Mexico as one of its principal sources of oil. Mexico's major imports include machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, and consumer goods.

Climate

Afghanistan is a landlocked country in the subtropics of the northern hemisphere, with a continental climate due to its altitude and distance from the sea. The country experiences hot summers and cold winters, with temperature differences sometimes exceeding 30 degrees Celsius between day and night. The northeastern part of the country, which includes the Hindu Kush mountains, has cold winters with average temperatures ranging from -4 to 1 degree Celsius, while summers tend to be mild, with average temperatures between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius. The southern regions, including Kandahar, have a distinct desert climate, with temperatures dropping as low as 5 degrees Celsius at night and soaring to 30 to 40 degrees Celsius during the day.

New Mexico, a landlocked state in the southwestern region of the United States, also experiences a continental climate, with large variations in temperature due to differences in elevation. The state's average annual temperature is in the mid-50s Fahrenheit (about 12 degrees Celsius), but extremes can range from nearly 120 degrees Fahrenheit (about 48 degrees Celsius) to the negative 50s Fahrenheit (about negative 46 degrees Celsius). The northern and eastern regions of New Mexico exhibit a colder alpine climate, while the western and southern regions are warmer and more arid. The state experiences warm to hot days and cool nights in the summer, and cold nights and moderate days during the winter. Spring and fall bring more moderate temperatures, with spring being the most unpredictable season.

Wildlife

Afghanistan and New Mexico both have varied wildlife. Afghanistan is a landlocked country in South and Central Asia, while New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States.

Afghanistan Wildlife

Afghanistan is home to diverse wildlife, including several types of mammals, birds, and invertebrates. The country's national animal, the elusive snow leopard, is rarely seen and lives in the mountains. Afghanistan's national bird, the golden eagle, is one of the most recognizable birds of prey in the world. The country's national dog, the Afghan hound, is known for its long fur and narrow face.

Some of the other wildlife in Afghanistan includes:

• Siberian tigers and brown bears
• Foxes, wolves, otters, deer, wild sheep, lynx, and other big cats
• Jackals, hyenas, mongoose, cheetahs, and wild pigs
• Marco Polo sheep, urials, ibex, bears, wolves, foxes, hyenas, jackals, and mongooses
• Bactrian deer, the most elusive deer species
• Pallas's cat, a small wild cat with long gray fur
• Long-tailed marmot
• Himalayan black bear, a subspecies of the Asian black bear with longer and thicker fur

New Mexico Wildlife

New Mexico is home to a variety of wildlife, including:

• Black bears, bighorn sheep, bobcats, cougars, deer, and elk
• Coyotes, jackrabbits, kangaroo rats, javelina, porcupines, pronghorn antelope, western diamondbacks, and wild turkeys
• The roadrunner, the state bird, is abundant in the southeast
• Over 500 species of birds live or migrate through the state
• Opossums, armadillos, shrews, bats, and lagomorphs
• Rodents such as the American beaver, yellow-faced pocket gopher, and the desert pocket gopher
• Carnivorans such as the coyote, gray wolf, and red fox

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