Zarafshan Range

Zarafshan Range Зеравшанский хребет Зарафшон Zarafshon
Part of the Zarafshan Range seen from Anzob Pass
Highest point
Peak	Chimtarga Peak
Elevation	5,489 m (18,009 ft)
Coordinates	39°20′N 69°40′E / 39.333°N 69.667°E / 39.333; 69.667Coordinates: 39°20′N 69°40′E / 39.333°N 69.667°E / 39.333; 69.667
Dimensions
Length	230 mi (370 km) East–West
Geography
Location in Tajikistan
Countries	Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
Parent range	Pamir-Alay

The Zarafshan Range (Russian: Зеравшанский хребет, Tajik: Зарафшон, Uzbek: Zarafshon; also Zeravshan or Zarafshon; from the Persian word Persian: زرافشان‎‎ zar-afshān, meaning "the sprayer of gold") is a mountain range in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, part of the Pamir-Alay mountains. Almost all of the range belongs to the drainage basins of the Zarafshan River.

The Persian name is believed to possibly be a reference to gold found in bed of the Zarafshan River and its tributaries, which has ushered prosperity to the region from ancient times.

The range extends over 370 kilometres (230 mi) in an east−west direction along the south of Sughd Region in Tajikistan, reaching the highest point of 5,489 metres (18,009 ft) (Chimtarga Peak) in its central part. South-west of Panjakent the range crosses from Tajikistan into Uzbekistan, where it continues at decreasing elevations (1,500–2,000 metres (4,900–6,600 ft)) along the internal border between Samarkand and Kashkadarya Regions provinces, until it blends into the desert south-west of Samarkand.

There are two other mountain ranges running in an east−west direction parallel to the Zarafshan Range. To the north, the Zeravshan Valley runs east for approximately 250 kilometres (160 mi) from Samarkand and separates the Zarafshan Range from the Turkestan Range. To the south, the Hisar range runs parallel to the Zarafshan Range. To the west of Lake Iskanderkul, the Zarafshan Range and the Gissar Range are connected by the Fann Mountains, which is the highest part of both ranges.