Murghab

Murghab is a geographic name used in Central Asia for a river and several settlements, most notably in Turkmenistan. The name derives from Persian murgh meaning bird and ab meaning water, a combination that appears in local toponyms across the region.

Murghab River: The Murghab River rises in the Pamir Mountains in what is now Tajikistan, then flows westward through eastern Afghanistan and into Turkmenistan. In its lower course the river loses much of its flow as it traverses the Karakum Desert and often dries up before reaching a substantial outlet. The river has historically supported irrigation and agriculture along its valley, shaping settlement patterns in the region.

Settlements and regions: In Turkmenistan, the town of Murgab (also Murghab) lies in Mary Province near the river and serves as the administrative center of Murghab District. The local economy is tied to irrigation networks that exploit Murghab water for agriculture in the Karakum Desert, including canal projects that help sustain settlements in an arid environment.

Other usage: The name Murghab also denotes broader river basins and valleys in Tajikistan and Afghanistan that feed the Murghab River. These upper basins lie in the Pamir region and contribute to the headwaters that sustain downstream communities along the river’s progression toward Turkmenistan.

See also: Murghab Basin, Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan irrigation networks, Pamir Mountains.