Balkh
long the chief town, situated in a district intersected by canals and ditches, by means of which the waters of the Balkh-ab, or Dehâs, are dissipated and prevented from flowing toward the Amu-Daria, only 45 miles distant. It was twice destroyed by Genghis Khan and Timur. A terrible outbreak of cholera in 1877 caused the capital of Afghan Turkestan to be transferred to Mazar, W. of Balkh; since then Balkh has lost most of its former importance.
BALKHASH (bälg-ash'), (Kirghiz Tengis; Chinese Sihai), a great inland sea, near the E. border of Russian Central Asia, between 44° and 47° N. lat., and 73° and 79° E. long. Lying about 780 feet above sea-level, it extends 323 miles W. S. W.; its breadth at the W. end is 50 miles; at the E. from 9 to 4 miles; the area is 8,400 square miles.
The water is clear, but intensely salty.
Its principal feeder is the river Ili. It has no outlet.