A wide region in Central Asia, divided by the Pamir plateau into sections: Western Turkestan, which embraces Russian Turkestan (3,342), the Khanates of Khiva and Bokhara, and Afghan Turkestan. Eastern Turkestan, formerly called Chinese Tartary; unproductive in many parts, and but sparsely populated; produces some gold, and a considerable quantity of silk, besides linens and cottons.