The Hari River (Persian: Rudkhaneh-ye Hari Rud sometimes Harirud) is a river flowing 1100 kilometers from the mountains of central Afghanistan to Turkmenistan, where it disappears in the Kara-Kum desert. Rud means "river" in Persian.

The river originates in the Baba mountain range, part of the Hindu Kush system, and follows a relatively straight course to the west.

In western Afghanistan the Hari River flows to the south of Herat. The valley around Herat was historically famous for its fertility and dense cultivation. The river meets the Jam River at the site of the Minaret of Jam, the second tallest ancient minaret in the world at 65 meters.

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.

In Turkmenistan it is known as the Tejen or Tedzhen river and passes close to the city of Tedzhen. In Latin, it was known as the Arius.

Contents 1 Ancient References 2 External links 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Ancient References

The Rigved records the Harirud as River Horayu .^[1] The river Horayu is also mentioned in the Avesta.^[2] 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^[3].

Hari is also a name for Lord Vishnu, please see hari.

[edit] External links

• Minaret of Jam
• A map showing the river
• A mention of the Tedzhen river

[edit] See also

• Rigvedic rivers

[edit] References

1. ^ Early Aryans of India, 3100-1400 B.C. By S. B. Roy Page 76
2. ^ Legend of Ram: antiquity to janmabhumi debate By Sanujit Ghose.Page 77
3. ^ Lithuanian archeologists make discovery in Afghanistan, The Baltic Times, May 22, 2008; Archaeologists make new discoveries about ancient Afghan cultures, Top News, 05/23/2008.

Coordinates: 34°39′N 66°43′E / 34.65°N 66.717°E / 34.65; 66.717

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