Sumbar River

In southern Turkmenistan and northern Iran, the Sumbar River is a fast-flowing river. It's a branch of the Atrek. In Turkic languages, Sari-su refers to golden water, although it also refers to a variety of different rivers. Turkmenistan used to be a haven for Caspian tigers until the last one was slain in January 1954.

The Sumbar River is 245 kilometers long (152 miles) and drains an 8,300-square-kilometer basin (3,200 sq mi). Its source is in Iran's Kopet Dag mountains, and it flows into Turkmenistan. A series of hills known as the Marábeh separates the Sumbar from the Atrek for a lengthy distance before it flows into it.

Mountain routes that run along the plateau, passing past the settlements of Nukhur and Sayvan, go down to the Sumbar river valley via a serpentine path. However, it is preferable to travel along the route through the spectacular vestibule of the valley - the "moon mountains" - at least once. This is one of the southern Kopetdag's most remarkable local attractions.

Length: 245 km