Atrek River

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Atrek (also Atrak and Etrek) is a fast-moving river which begins in the mountains of Northeastern Iran (37°10′N 59°00′E / 37.167°N 59°E / 37.167; 59), and flows 563 km (350 miles) westward draining into the southeastern corner of the Caspian Sea. Because of the high use of its waters for irrigation, it only flows into the Caspian when it is in flood stage.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Politics 3 Ecology 4 References

[edit] Geography

The Atrek is 669 km long and drains a basin of 27 300 km².

[edit] Politics

Beginning at 37°59′28″N 55°16′29″E / 37.99111°N 55.27472°E / 37.99111; 55.27472, where its tributary the Sumbar join it, the river forms the border of Iran with Turkmenistan; this helped keep the area closed throughout the Cold War years. A 1926 treaty between Iran and Turkmenistan stipulates that Turkmenistan receives approximately 50% of the total Artrek average runoff.

[edit] Ecology

Even though sturgeons concentrate in the area of the Caspian Sea next to the Turkmen coast, they do not currently migrate into the Atrek River owing to its low water level and pollution. Since the Atrek is the only Caspian watershed river of the Turkmen coast, sturgeons do not reproduce in Turkmenistan anymore.^[1]

[edit] References

This article includes content derived from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969–1978.

This Golestan province location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

This North Khorasan province location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

This Razavi Khorasan province location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e

This Turkmenistan location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e