KUCHAN

kuchan, a fertile and populous district of the province khorasan in persia, bounded n. by the russian transcaspian territory, w. by bujnurd, s. by isfarain, and extending in the e. to near radkan. its area is about 3000 sq. m. and its population, principally composed of zafaranlu kurds, descendants of tribes settled there by shah abbas i. in the 17th century, is estimated at 100,000. about 3000 families are nomads and live in tents. the district produces much grain, 25,000 to 30,000 tons yearly, and contains two towns, kuchan and shirvan (pop. 6000), and many villages.