Zeravshan: Encyclopedia - Zeravshan

Zeravshan

The Zeravshan or Zarafshan river, whilst smaller and less well-known than the two great rivers of Central Asia, the Amu Darya (or Oxus) and the Syr Darya (or Jaxartes), is if anything more valuable as a source of irrigation in the region.

Its name signifies 'Spreader of Gold' in Persian, and refers to the presence of gold-bearing sands in the upper reaches of the river.

Its course runs through present-day Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, from a source on the fringes of the Pamirs, past Penjikent to the legendary cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, which are entirely dependent on the oasis thus created.

Originally a tributary of the Oxus, it now loses itself in the desert beyond Bukhara without reaching the greater river.

The Zeravshan range or Zeravshan mountains rise to the south of the river. They reach up to 5,630 metres high.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Zeravshan", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki