GERESHK

town, southwestern Afghanistan. It lies along the Helmand River, 75 miles (120 km) west-northwest of Kandahar, with which it is linked by road. Gereshk is the centre of a rich agricultural area; the Kajaki dam upriver diverts water to the Boghra irrigation canal. The town was originally built around a fort on the right bank of the river and was later rebuilt on the left bank. During the First Anglo-Afghan War (183942), the fort, now in ruins, was held by the British; it was returned in 1879. Gereshk houses an engineering school (1957) and a hospital. About 20 miles (32 km) south of the town, at the confluence of the Helmand and Arghandab rivers, is the ruined city of Qal'eh-ye Best (Bust). Pop. (1988 est.) 6,000.