Amu Dar'ya
geographical name
Amu Dar'·ya ˌä-mü-ˈdär-yə 
variants or ancient Oxus
ˈäk-səs
river over 1500 miles (2400 kilometers) long in central and western Asia flowing from the Pamirs into the Aral Sea
Note: Reduced flow of the Amu Darya in the latter part of its course, mainly due to the siphoning off of water for irrigation, has been a contributing factor in the severe shrinkage of the Aral Sea.