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The Amu (Oxus) This forms the boundary between Afghanistan and the Soviet Republic for a distance of about 700 miles. Known as Aab-i-Wakhan at its source in Little Pamir, and later as Aab-i-Panja, it is gradually augmented by the several tributaries which join it, until it eventually becomes the full-spated Amu. Before reaching Istkashim, in a virtually east- west direction, it crosses deep gorges and chasms. Here it turns directly north on its journey to Wishkari, and drops a height of 3,300ft. From Wishkari it courses southwards again to where the Kokcha joins it, and then runs west into desert- land, until, at Khamiab, it leaves Afghan territory altogether to flow up to the Aral Sea. The Murghab This river has its sources in two lakes lying alongside Latitude 35. From their height of 8,200ft. the waters of these two lakes flow west to converge at Charsada, and form the Murghab. Flowing initially through the Chagh- charan and Feroz Koh areas, the Murghab then descends to the plain, and changes course up to Bala Murgrah. Its fertile shores are used extensively for agriculture; and at Maruchak, some thirty miles from Bala Murghab, the river is cut by the boundary between Afghan- istan and Russian Turkmenistan. The Hari Rud This, too, rises from two lakes, the Sangalab and the Sarjangal, both occurring 13,100ft. above sea level in the Koh-i-Baba range. It travels between the Western Sia Koh and the Koh-i-Saffid to the verdant plain of Herat, slowing and widening as it goes. Before arriving at Koshan, near the Afghan-Persian border, the river drops more than 10,600ft., then swings north-east to Islan Qala, and north to Turkmenistan. Between Koshan and Tuman Akha the Hari Rud flows inside Afghan territory, but hereon it marks the boundary between Afghanistan and Iran, until at Zulfiqar it flows out into the Turkmen deserts. The Kabul This river, from which the capital takes its name, rises at Unai, 11,500ft. above sea level, and flows down into the Kabul Valley. Before reaching the capital it is joined by a number of tributaries, and later, on its way to Jalalabad, by the Logar and Panjsher. At Jalalabad it is met by the most important of its tributaries, the Kunar; and at Attock, near Peshawar, it finally flows into the mighty Sind, having run some 286 miles. In the summer months it is used to irrigate the majority of the zones through which it passes. The Helmand Of all the rivers of Afghanistan the Helmand is the longest, 620 miles. Rising from the Hazarajat mountains near the source of the Kabul, at a height of 12,500ft., it flows south-westwards through very mountainous country to Girishk. It is just south of here that its main tribu- tary, the Arghandab, joins it. The Arghandab itself is a river of considerable note, with three tributaries, and in fact it only joins the Helmand in winter time, for during the hotter seasons its waters are harnessed for irrigation purposes. Hereonafter the Helmand runs through barren land, terminating in the three great Hamun lakes which lie on the Afghan- Iranian border. The flow of the Helmand is very fluctuating, ranging between 2,000 and 60,000 cubic feet per second, accounting for the delta and lakes at its mouth, and the frequent changes in the boundary between Afghanistan and Iran. Recently however, the entire Helmand Valley has come within a vast irrigation scheme. Under the Five-Year Plan its waters are being harnessed to supply the formerly barren area with the water so desperately needed; and the flow will be controlled to guard against floods, especially in the area near Chakhansur. 57