List of rivers of Turkmenistan facts for kids
Turkmenistan is a country in Central Asia with a dry climate. Rivers are super important here because they bring water to people, farms, and animals. While Turkmenistan has many small rivers, only four are considered major: the Atrek, Amu Darya, Murghab, and Tejen.
A cool fact about Turkmenistan's rivers is that none of them flow into an ocean! Instead, they flow into special areas called "endorheic basins." Think of these basins like giant bowls where the water collects. The water either sinks into the ground or evaporates.
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Turkmenistan's Important Rivers
Turkmenistan has about 3,000 rivers in total. But most of them are shorter than 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) long. Also, nearly all of them, except for about 40, only flow during certain seasons, like after rain or snowmelt.
Where Do the Rivers Flow?
The major rivers of Turkmenistan are grouped by where their water ends up. Even though they don't reach an ocean, they still flow into different large basins.
Rivers Flowing to the Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is actually the world's largest inland body of water, more like a huge lake!
- Atrek River (Turkmen: Etrek): This river flows towards the Caspian Sea.
- Sumbar (Sary-suw): A smaller river that joins the Atrek.
- Chandyr River: Another river that flows into the Atrek.
- Uzboy (extinct) (Turkmen: Uzboý): This used to be a branch of the Amu Darya river, but it dried up a long time ago.
Rivers Flowing to the Karakum Desert
The Karakum Desert is a very large sandy desert in Turkmenistan. Some rivers flow into this dry area and disappear.
- Tejen River (Harirud): This river now flows into the Karakum Canal, which is a man-made waterway.
- Murghab River: This important river also flows into the desert.
Rivers Flowing to the Aral Sea
The Aral Sea is another large inland lake, though it has shrunk a lot over the years.
Meet the Major Rivers
Let's learn more about Turkmenistan's most important rivers.
The Mighty Amu Darya
The Amu Darya is Turkmenistan's largest and most powerful river. It's about 1,415 kilometers (879 miles) long in total. A huge part of it, about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), flows through Turkmenistan. This river is super important because it's the main source of water for the Karakum Canal.
The Murghab River's Journey
The Murghab River is the second-largest river in Turkmenistan. It's 978 kilometers (608 miles) long, with 530 kilometers (329 miles) of that length inside Turkmenistan. As it flows northwest of the city of Mary, the Murghab river eventually disappears into the sands of the Karakum Desert.
The Tejen River's Path
The Tejen River is the third-largest river. Its water has been redirected to flow into the Karakum Canal. This helps to bring water to more areas that need it.
The Atrek River and Its Branches
The Atrek River starts in the Khorasan Mountains in Iran. Most of its water, about sixty percent, flows during the spring and winter seasons. The Atrek's main smaller rivers that join it are the Sumbar and Chandyr Rivers.
Rivers from the Mountains
Over 140 smaller rivers and springs flow down from the Kopet Dag mountain range in the north. Some of the biggest ones include the Begmyrat, Gamisuv, Ashgabat, Garasuv, Altyap, Sekizyap, Archman, Chachechay, Manechay, Artyk, Sunche, Borme, Bamy, Goch, and Gyzylarbat rivers. These smaller rivers are also vital for local communities.
The Karakum Canal: A Man-Made River
Sometimes, people in Turkmenistan might talk about the "Garagum River." But this isn't a natural river at all! They are actually talking about the Karakum Canal. This is a huge, artificial waterway that was built by people to bring water from the Amu Darya river to dry parts of the country. It's a very important project for irrigation and water supply.
