BALK, or BALKH (the ancient kingdom of Bactria), a province of Central Asia, now a dependency of the khanat of Bokhara, lying between Lat. 35. and 37. N., and Long. 63. and 69. E. The country of Balk is bounded by the Oxus on the N., by the great mountain range of the Hindu
Khoi and Paropamisus on the S., by Badakshan on the E., and generally by sandy deserts on the W. It is said to extend 250 miles from E. to W., and from 100 to 120 miles from N. to S. Towards the S. the country abounds in hills which branch out from the Hindu Khoi range. Here the soil is generally stony, though it has many well-watered valleys. The central portion of the country is level, fertile, and well watered, from the vicinity of the hills; while towards the N., near the stream of the Oxus, it is sandy and barren. The western part of the country of Balk, which borders on the desert, is of a similar nature; but in the E. there are mountainous tracts which are well watered, and occasionally fertile. The country descends very rapidly from the mountain range of Hindu Khoi, and towards the Oxus is of a lower level and of a much hotter climate than those parts of Afghanistan which lie to the S. of these mountains. Balk is inhabited by the Uzbek-Tatars, Tanjiks, and Arabs. The total population is estimated at 1,000,000.