Zarafshan

In terms of flow and length, the Zerafshan River, also known as Zarafshan, cannot match the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, but it is no less important in Central Asian history. It rises in the depths of the Zeravshan Mountains and flows through Tajikistan for half of its length before gradually disappearing in Uzbekistan. The river has always had a greater significance than the Amu Darya, of which it was a tributary. "Gold-bearing" is how Zarafshan is translated from Persian. It was termed Politimet by ancient Greek historians, which means "multi-revered," and Nami by Chinese travelers, which meant "noble, revered".

Its banks are home to two Central Asian pearl cities: Samarkand, which was built 2700 years ago on the Zerafshan River, and Bukhara, which is located downstream. The banks of the Zarafshan are also home to Zamanbobo, a Neolithic settlement, and Sarazm, an ancient city whose ruins are now listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are additional cities like Pendjikent (Tajikistan), Navoi (Uzbekistan), and numerous tiny settlements along the river.

The river is 877 kilometers long, and while it is fed by multiple tributaries at its head, its lower reaches feed numerous channels, which use 85 percent of the water to irrigate 560,000 hectares of land. Tajikistan also intends to construct many hydroelectric power stations along the river's banks. This river is extremely valuable to the residents of the entire region.

Length: 877 km