DIUSHAMBE (now STALINABAD), a small town in Turkistan, capital of the Tadzhik S.S.R., situated south of the Hissar Moun tains, but north of the town of Hissar, on the Diushambe river, a tributary of the Kafirnigan river which flows into the Amu-Darya. Pop. (1935) 6o,000. It is the centre of a fertile loess area, pro ducing grains (including rice), cotton, melons, grapes, apricots and other fruits. The town itself is built on a loess cliff and its streets and gardens and water tank are shaded by poplar trees. Formerly of little importance, for its main link with the U.S.S.R. was a caravan route to Samarkand, Stalinobad has developed rap idly since its connection by rail with Termez (124 miles) and the establishment of air communications with Termez and Kagan.
It is also a base for the All-Union Academy of Science.