The Sumbar (also Sari-su, Sara-su and Ṣáríṣú) is a fast flowing river in southern Turkmenistan and northern Iran. It a tributary of the Atrek. The name Sari-su means yellow water in Turkic languages, but is applied to a number of other rivers as well. It used to be an area for Caspian tigers^[1] in Turkmenistan, until the last individual was killed in January 1954.

Geography

The Sumbar is 245 kilometres (152 mi) long and drains a basin of 8,300 square kilometres (3,200 sq mi). It arises in the Kopet Dag mountains in Iran and flows into Turkmenistan. For a long stretch before the Sumbar runs into the Atrek, it is separated from the latter by a range of hills called the Marábeh.^[2] The Atrek becomes part of the Turkmenistan-Iran border where the Sumbar flows into it, at 37°59′28″N 55°16′29″E / 37.99111°N 55.27472°E / 37.99111; 55.27472.