| Shirin Tagab | |
| Pushpin Map: | Afghanistan |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Mouth location |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Afghanistan |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Faryab |
| Discharge1 Location: | Khisht Pu |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 4450l/s |
| Discharge2 Location: | Dawlatabad |
| Discharge2 Avg: | 2340l/s |
| Discharge3 Location: | Pata Baba (371 m) |
| Discharge3 Avg: | 3980l/s |
| Source1: | Runoff |
| Source1 Location: | Eastern Bilchiragh District |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 35.93°N 65.65°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 1800m (5,900feet) |
| Mouth: | Inland Delta |
| Mouth Location: | Area surrounding Andkhoy |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 36.95°N 72°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 300m (1,000feet) |
| Basin Size: | 13600km2 |
| Tributaries Left: | Chashma-i Khwab, Shor Darya |
| Tributaries Right: | Astana |
The Shirin Tagab River is a river in Afghanistan, which travels before ending in an inland delta around Andkhoi.[1] The river's watershed has 504 settlements with a population of 605,972, and covers the majority of Faryab Province.[2] Downstream, the river is brackish/saltwater. In addition, the river is a source of water-borne diseases.
The river begins flowing west in the eastern part of Bilchiragh District, and is joined by the river Chashma-i Khwab near the district center, after the Chashma has flowed through scenic rapids. The Tagab then turns north, flowing through the northeast corner of Pashtun Kot District and western Khwaja Sabz Posh District. As it enters Shirin Tagab District, the river is joined by the Astana river. At Araba, an irrigation canal takes the majority of the river's water. Then, near Pata Baba in Dawlat Abad District, it is joined by the Shor Darya River, which carries the water from the Almar, Qaysar, and Maimana rivers. The Shirin Tagab then dissipates around the city of Andkhoy, on the edge of the Dasht-i Shortepa.[3]
The river used to run to the Amu Darya before the development of irrigation and the diversion of water.
Most of the river's water is used for irrigation. Sometimes, the large amount of water being diverted leaves the natural waterway nearly dry; little water reaches Andkhoy in the summer months.
About of its watershed is cultivated, and another 6,000 serving as rangeland.