Cheerhchen Ho

(also Cherchen Darya), a river in West China. The Ch’eerhch’en Ho rises in the Arka Tagh of the Przheval’skii Ridge; after emerging from the Kunlun Mountains, it flows along the southeastern edge of the Takla Makan Desert. The river empties into Kara Buran Kol and, during the high water in July and August, into the swamps southwest of Lop Nor. Measured from its source to Kara Buran Kol, the river has a length of 725 km. The mean flow rate is approximately 20 cu m per sec at the place where the river emerges from the mountains. The Ch’eerhch’en Ho brings water to the Ch’eerhch’en oasis. The lower course of the river is waterless most of the year.