Hari (Afghanistan)
{{Short description|River flowing from Afghanistan to Turkmenistan}}
{{Redirect|Harirud|the administrative subdivision of Iran|Harirud Rural District}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Hari River
| image = Jam Qasr Zarafshan.jpg
| image_size = 250
| subdivision_type1 = Countries
| subdivision_name1 = Afghanistan and Turkmenistan
| source1_location = Koh-i-Baba
| mouth_location = Karakum Desert
| progression =
| length_km = 1100
| source1_elevation =
| mouth_elevation =
| discharge1_avg =
| basin_size = 39,300 km2
| river_system =
}}
The Hari River ({{Langx|fa|هریرود}} or {{langx|prs|هری رود|translit=Harī Rōd}}; {{langx|ps|د هري سیند}}) or Herat River or Tejen River or Harirud is a river flowing {{convert|1100|km|mi}} from the mountains of central Afghanistan to Turkmenistan, where it forms the Tejen oasis and disappears in the Karakum Desert. In its lower course, the river forms a northern part of the border between Afghanistan and Iran, and a southeastern part of the border between Turkmenistan and Iran.
The name of the river derives from the Old Persian word Harawaiah 'river rich in water'.{{Cite book |last=Everett-Heath |first=John |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780191882913.001.0001/acref-9780191882913;jsessionid=EAB6D9AC4DAA2D1DF826C3A97DD8C65A |title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Place Names |date=2019-10-24 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-188291-3 |language=en-US |doi=10.1093/acref/9780191882913.001.0001}}
In Turkmenistan, the Hari is known as the Tejen or Tedzhen river and passes close to the city of Tejen. To the ancient Greeks, it was known as the Arius.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/sixthgreatorien00rawl#page/69/mode/2up/search/Arius|title=The sixth great Oriental monarchy; or The geography, history, & antiquities of Parthia, collected and illustrated from ancient and modern sources|author=George Rawlinson|author-link=George Rawlinson|date=1873|pages=69, 444(index)}} In Latin, it was known as the Tarius.
History
One theory suggests that the Rigvedic Sarayu and the Hari are the same river.{{cite book |editor1=Irfan Habib |editor2=Vijay Kumar Thakur |title=The Vedic Age and the Coming of Iron, C. 1500-700 B.C. |year=2003 |publisher=Tulika |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hvBtAAAAMAAJ |page=4 }}Early Aryans of India, 3100–1400 B.C. By S. B. Roy Page 76
A Buddhist monastery hand-carved in the bluff of the river Harirud existed in the first centuries during the prevalence of Buddhism. The artificial caves revealed testimony of daily life of the Buddhist monks.[http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/20534/ Lithuanian archeologists make discovery in Afghanistan], The Baltic Times, May 22, 2008; [http://www.topnews.in/archaeologists-make-new-discoveries-about-ancient-afghan-cultures-243633 Archaeologists make new discoveries about ancient Afghan cultures], Top News, 23 May 2008.
Course
Image:Herat Hari Rud bridge.jpg]]
The river originates in the eastern part of Ghor Province in the Baba mountain range, part of the extensions of Hindu Kush system, and follows a relatively straight course to the west.
Some {{convert|200|km|mi}} upstream from Herat, the river meets the Jam River at the site of the Minaret of Jam, the second tallest ancient minaret in the world at {{convert|65|m|ft}}.
In western Afghanistan, the Hari Rud flows to the south of Herat. The valley around Herat with the Paropamisus Mountains (Selseleh-ye Safēd Kōh) on the right river bank was historically famous for its fertility and dense cultivation. After Herat, the river turns northwest, then north, forming the northern part of the border between Afghanistan and Iran. Farther north it forms the south-eastern part of the border between Iran and Turkmenistan. The Iran–Turkmenistan Friendship Dam is on the river.{{Cite book|last1=Shroder |first1=John F. |year=2016 |chapter=Hari Rud – Murghab River Basin |title=Transboundary Water Resources in Afghanistan: Climate Change and Land-Use Implications |location=Saint Louis |publisher=Elsevier |pages=410–412 |isbn=978-0-12-801861-3}}
Salma Dam, a hydroelectric and irrigation dam project, is located on the Hari Rud in Chishti Sharif District of Herat Province in western Afghanistan.
The average annual discharge of the Hari Rud is about 55 m3/s, but during a spring flood in 1939 the discharge went up to 1090 m3/s.{{cite web |title=DLM 3 Rivers of the Hindu Kush, Pamir, and Hindu Raj |url=https://www.unomaha.edu/international-studies-and-programs/center-for-afghanistan-studies/academics/transboundary-water-research/DLM3/DLM3.php |website=International Programs |access-date=31 October 2020 |date=24 April 2019}}
In 2000, the river dried up completely during a 10-month drought.{{cite news|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/01/jan/1011.html|title=Iran-Turkmen river flowing again after drought|newspaper=Parvand News|date=3 January 2001|access-date=15 January 2021|archive-date=9 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109115612/http://www.payvand.com/news/01/jan/1011.html|url-status=dead}}
Bridges
= Pulkhatyn Bridge =
An unused stone-bridge of five arches, this falls in the Ahal Region of Turkmenistan.{{cite book|last=Brummell|first=Paul|title=Turkmenistan|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|year=2005|isbn=9781841621449|page=132}} It is about {{Convert|2|km|mi}} north of Iran–Turkmenistan Friendship Dam.
Pulkhatyn translates to "wealthy woman." In Turkmen lore, the custodian of the bridge was a woman who made a fortune by taxing all travelers; Alexander the Great had apparently refused to pay this fee and crossed further downstream.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- UNESCO: [http://www.unesco.org/bpi/eng/unescopress/2002/02-45e.shtml Minaret of Jam] (Press Release No.2002-41) and [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/211 Minaret and Archaeological Remains of Jam] (World Heritage List entry).
- [http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/afghanistan_topo86.jpg University of Texas: A map showing the river] (as 'Hariru').
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20030330210430/http://www.purethrottle.com/briancoad/Species%20Accounts/speciesaccountsintro.htm A mention of the Tedzhen river] (inaccessible on 2013-06-26).
{{Coord|34|39|N|66|43|E|display=title|region:AF_type:river_source:dewiki}}
{{Rivers of Turkmenistan}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Rivers of Afghanistan
Category:Rivers of Turkmenistan
Category:International rivers of Asia
Category:Afghanistan–Iran border
Category:Iran–Turkmenistan border
Category:Landforms of Bamyan Province
Category:Landforms of Herat Province