| Khulm River | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Kara-Kotal pass |
| • elevation | 3,600 m (11,800 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Amu Darya River |
| Length | 230 km (140 mi) |
| Basin size | 8,400 km2 (3,200 sq mi) |
TheKhulm River (Darya-i Khulm; alternate spelling:Kholm; alternate name:Tashqurghan River)[1] is a river of north-centralAfghanistan. In its lower course, it passes throughKhulm and Haybak[2] inBalkh Province. The Khulm is a tributary to theOxus basin.[3] Its source is south of the city of Khulm and it passes through the city ofSamangan andSamangan Province. The Khulm River forms the western border ofKunduz Province.[3]
The mountains are characterized as rockyaridity as they extend from theKoh-i-Baba to Khulm River. On occasion, the landscape turns into trenched valleys engulfed with vegetation.[3] The river rocks are composed of sandstone and limestone.[4]
The Khulm River is one of the tributaries of theAmu Darya River, a major river inCentral Asia. It is known as a “blind river” or “natural river” as it dries up due to local use within its basin boundary and does not reach the Amu Darya, except during exceptional high flow years. The Khulm River originates in the Kara-Kotal pass and flows through gorges and then emerges into a wide valley near the Tashkurgan town. The river raising at an elevation of 3,600 m has a total length of about 230 km. It drains a catchment area of 8,400 km2 with the annual runoff estimates varying from 58.2 to 67 million m3 by different assessors. The road between Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif follows the course of the river.[5]At the junction of theBamian andBadakhshan routes, the Khulm River emerges from the mountains by the town ofKholm.[6]
The entire Khulm water is used up for irrigation before it can reach the Oxus.[3] In 1896, Keane wrote of the countryside's desert encroachment, causing the Khulm River as it passes from theKara-koh hills to no longer reach the Oxus.[7]
The banks of the Khulm River are rich agricultural areas with rolling green hills at the side of the valleys it passes through. Many farmers in this region of Afghanistan are dependent upon the river for agriculture, particularly fruits. The Khulm is said to produce the world's finestSatar Bayee,Khairuddin Bayee andAbdul Wahidi almonds,pistachio nuts and Afghanistan's finestpomegranates.[8]
Near Khulm, there are extensive orchards on the banks of the river.[9]IDEA-NEW has been responsible for implementing a new program to prevent the orchards from flooding inKhulm District, protecting some 500 hectares of orchards from floods.[8] The first phase was completed in winter 2009 with the erection of a 975 metre long protection wall and in 2010 550 metre long gabion protection walls were built on both sides of the Khulm River benefiting 500 families.[8] The project has created some 6,900 days of employment for local workers combined and generating an income of US$99,362 for the labourers who were trained in gabion weaving to be implemented along the river banks.[8] Previously the locals living along the river would attempt to mitigate the river against flooding with sandbanks which failed poorly.[8]
| Districts |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Landforms | ||
| Landmarks and culture | ||
| Districts |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Populated places | ||
| Other | ||
36°45′58″N67°42′09″E / 36.766007°N 67.702446°E /36.766007; 67.702446