Plizio Visual Lab

Tejen River

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

River

Weather…

The Tejen River, widely known as the Hari River or Hari-Rud in Afghanistan, originates in the Ghor highlands and flows for approximately 1,150 kilometers before disappearing into the sands of the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan. It serves as a lifeline for regional agriculture, particularly within the Tejen Oasis, where its waters have been harnessed for centuries to irrigate cotton and grain fields. Historically significant, the river is mentioned in the Avesta as the Harayu and was the center of the ancient region of Aria. In its lower reaches, the Tejen forms a significant portion of the international border between Iran and Turkmenistan. A modern landmark of transboundary water management is the Friendship Dam (Doosti Dam), completed in 2005 as a joint venture between Iran and Turkmenistan to regulate water distribution. The river's flow is highly seasonal, peaking during the spring snowmelt from the Hindu Kush mountains.

Location: Turkmenistan
Top sights: Tejen House of Culture · Church of the Apostle Thomas · Metjit

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Apr, Sep, Oct.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	3	5	12	18	25	31	33	30	25	17	9	4
Rain mm	20	29	36	29	15	1	0	0	1	8	18	13

📋 Practical info

🧭

Getting there

The river and its oasis are accessible by road from the city of Tejen or Mary, with routes following the fertile plains where the water sustains the surrounding desert landscape and local agriculture.

📅

Best season

Spring from March to May is the most pleasant time to visit, as the landscape is relatively green and temperatures are mild before the extreme heat of the Turkmen summer sets in during June.

⛰️

Terrain & paths

The terrain transitions from sandy desert dunes to fertile, flat alluvial plains near the riverbanks, where irrigation canals and agricultural fields dominate the scenery around the main watercourse.

🎒

What to bring

Light cotton clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and strong sun protection are essential; visitors should also carry plenty of bottled water when traveling through the drier desert sections of the region.

🅿️

Parking

Parking can be found in the town of Tejen or in nearby villages along the main roads; when exploring rural areas, drivers should park on firm ground near local settlements to avoid soft sand.

⚠️

Safety

Stay on established roads and be mindful of the desert heat; it is important to have a reliable vehicle and to inform someone of your travel plans when venturing far from the major urban centers.

⏱️

Time needed

A typical visit to see the river and explore the surrounding oasis landscapes usually lasts a few hours to half a day, depending on how far you travel along the fertile valley and irrigation zones.

Geography

Coordinates

37.38000, 60.50000

Facts

The total length of the river is approximately 1,150 kilometers.
It originates at an altitude of about 3,000 meters in the Koh-i-Baba range.
The river supports the Tejen Oasis in Turkmenistan, covering 150,000 hectares of land.
The Friendship Dam has a reservoir capacity of 1.25 billion cubic meters.
Ancient Greek historians referred to the river as the Arius.
The river terminates in a blind delta in the Karakum Desert after crossing the border.