Salma Hydropower Plant

The Salma Dam, officially known as the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, is a major hydropower and irrigation project on the Hari Rud River in Herat Province. The project was originally started in the 1970s but was interrupted for decades by the Soviet invasion and subsequent conflicts. With comprehensive financial and technical support from India, the dam was finally completed and inaugurated in 2016. It has a power generation capacity of 42 megawatts and can irrigate tens of thousands of hectares of agricultural land. For the agricultural region of Herat, the dam is of enormous importance as it ensures the water supply for the cultivation of wheat, fruit, and saffron and reduces dependence on rainfall. The project is a strong symbol of cooperation between Afghanistan and India and a central building block for economic development in the west of the country, contributing to energy security and improving agricultural productivity.

Nearby cities

Herat

Located in western Afghanistan on the Hari Rud river, Herat is known for its impressive Persian architecture.

Nature

Hari Rud

The Hari Rud flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan westwards through the city of Herat and later forms the border with Iran and…

Murghab

The Murghab rises in the Afghan mountains, flows northwest, and creates important fertile oases before drying up in the Karakum Desert.

More places

Siah Koh

The Siah Koh, meaning 'Black Mountain' in Persian, is a mountain group stretching through the western and central parts of the country.

Shrine of Khwaja Abd Allah

The Gazar-Gah Shrine houses the tomb of the revered Sufi mystic Khwaja Abd Allah Ansari and is a center of Islamic spirituality.

Torghundi Dry Port

Torghundi is the second major border crossing with Turkmenistan and important for trade in the northwest.

Herat Industrial Park

The Herat Industrial Park is one of the country's most active economic centers, characterized by strong trade links.

Citadel of Herat

The Citadel of Herat, also known as Qala Ikhtyaruddin, is an ancient fortress with origins dating back to Alexander the Great.

Musalla Complex

The Musalla Complex in Herat is a collection of 15th-century Islamic architecture consisting of minarets and mausoleums.

Herat Saffron Fields

Herat is the center of Afghan saffron cultivation, where the precious red threads are hand-harvested and win awards worldwide.

Islam Qala Border Crossing

Islam Qala in Herat Province is the largest and most important border crossing for trade between Afghanistan and Iran.