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.

Related Topics:
River - Central Asia - Amu Darya - Syr Darya

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

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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 oases thus created.

Related Topics:
Tajikistan - Uzbekistan - Pamirs - Penjikent - Samarkand - Bukhara - Oases

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

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

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