Zeravshan (river)

river in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan

The Zarafshon is a river in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Central Asia. Its name, "spreader of gold" in Persian, refers to the presence of gold-bearing sands in the upper reaches of the river. To the ancient Greeks it was known as the Polytimetus. It was also formerly known as Sughd River. The river is 877 kilometres (545 mi) long and has a basin area of 17,700 square kilometres (6,800 sq mi).

Zarafshon
The Zarafshon in Ayni District, Tajikistan
The Zarafshon in the Amu Darya basin
Zeravshan (river) is located in Uzbekistan
Zeravshan (river)
Mouth
Location
CountryTajikistan, Uzbekistan
Physical characteristics
SourceZeravshan Glacier
 - coordinates39°30′N 70°35′E / 39.500°N 70.583°E / 39.500; 70.583
MouthQorakoʻl oasis
 - coordinates39°32′52″N 63°52′08″E / 39.5477°N 63.869°E / 39.5477; 63.869
Length877 km (545 mi)
Basin size17,700 km2 (6,800 sq mi)
Basin features
CitiesPanjakent, Samarkand, Bukhara
Tributaries 
 - leftFan Darya, Kshtut, Magiyan
Location of Zeravshan River in Central Asia.
Zeravshan River and Samarkand from space.[1]

A part of the river valley is known to the Kyrgyz people as Raskam, and the river itself is also called the Raskam River.[2] The river is also known as the Zarafshan River.[3] The area was once claimed by the ruler of Hunza.

References change

  1. Samarkand, Uzbekistan
  2. S.R. Bakshi, Kashmir through Ages ISBN 81-85431-71-X vol 1 p.22, in Google Books
  3. "NGIA GeoNames search". Archived from the original on 2017-03-18. Retrieved 2014-03-03.