The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Zerafshan

ZERAFSHAN, zĕr-ăf-shān', Asiatic Russia, a river rising in a valley at the junction of the Hissar and Turkestan Mountain chains, and after a westerly by north course of about 400 miles, passing the towns of Penjakent, Samarkand, Katakurgan, Kerminch and Bokhara, dispersing itself in the desert sands, between Karakul and the Oxus River. A railway line traverses the valley from Karakul to near Penjakent.