All large rivers of Turkmenistan originate outside the country. Its own rivers are very small and mostly endless, since all the water is pumped out for irrigation.
Atrek river
Atrek paves the way through the lands of Iran and Turkmenistan. The total length of the river is 669 kilometers. The total catchment area of the upper reaches of the Atrek is just over 27,000 square kilometers. The source of the river is located in the vicinity of the city of Zaukafan (territory of Khorasan Kurdistan). The place of confluence is the waters of the Gusan-Kuli Bay (water area of the Caspian Sea).
Since the end of the nineteenth century, the waters of the Atrek do not reach the Caspian Sea. The only exception is the flood period. At the point where it flows into the Caspian Sea, the Atrek forms a swampy delta that remains completely dry almost throughout the year. High water on Atrek is recorded in the spring and at the very beginning of the summer season.
Sumbar River
Sumbar is a river crossing the lands of two countries: Turkmenistan and Iran. In its upstream, it forms the border between these countries. The length of the current is equal to 245 kilometers. The total catchment area is approximately 8,300 square kilometers.
The beginning of Sumbar is located on the territory of the Kopetdag mountain system at the confluence of two rivers - Dainesu and Kulunsu. The source is located directly at the border itself. The river differs in that its lower part of the course stays dry for two to five months.
The largest feeding tributary of the Sumbar is the Chandir River. The river valley is the warmest part of the whole country and the cultivation of subtropical fruits is widely developed here. This is due not only to the fact that the place is located in a zone of subtropical climate, but also by the protection of the Kopetdag ridge. It is he who holds back the piercing north winds.
Murghab river
Murghab makes its way through the lands of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The total length of the river channel is 978 kilometers with a total catchment area of 46.9 square kilometers.
The beginning of the river is in the territory of Afghanistan (Sari-Pul). Murghab is fed during the snow melting period.
Chandir river
Chandir is a miniature and shallow river in the country, which is, nevertheless, the largest left-sided tributary of the Sumbara. The total length of the current varies. In the spring it is a full 120 kilometers, and in the spring and autumn - only 90 kilometers. The total catchment area is 1,820 square kilometers.
The source of Chandir is located in the Kopetdag mountains (territory of the southern slopes). The lower reaches of the river dry up almost completely in the summer, since an active water intake is being carried out.
