Aji Chay

Aji Chay[2] or Talkheh Rud (Azerbaijani: آجی چای Acıçay, Persian: تلخه رود‎ Talkheh Rud, both meaning "bitter river"[3][4]) is a river in Azerbaijan region of Iran. Most of it is in the East Azerbaijan Province.

Aji Chay Talkheh-Roud
Aji Chay bridge in northeast of Tabriz.
Location
Country	Iran
State	East Azerbaijan
Physical characteristics
Source
⁃ location	East Azerbaijan, Iran
Length	265 km (165 mi)
Discharge
⁃ location	Lake Urmia
⁃ maximum	40.6 m3/s (1,430 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
⁃ left	Vaneq River, Saidabad River, Quri Chay
⁃ right	Komur River[1], Sian River

Its water is alkali due to passing from the lands with high mineralization. It is the largest river that discharges into Lake Urmia. It arises above Sarab from the slopes of Mount Bozgush and Mount Sabalan. Its tributary, the sweet water Quri Chay, joins the Aji just north-east of central Tabriz.

The Iranian government has a project under development to put the water to agricultural use by altering the watercourse of the Talkheh-Roud away from the alkali lands. As part of this project, the Madani dam is being constructed on the Talkheh-Roud on the north-east side of Eynali mountain, which lies to the north-east of Tabriz.

The historic Aji Chay Bridge over the river, on the old Tabriz road to Marand, is just outside Tabriz and east of the Tabriz International Airport.[5]