The Akhuryan or Arpachay is a river in the South Caucasus. It originates in Armenia and flows from Lake Arpi, along the closed border with Turkey, forming part of the geographic border between the two states, until it flows into the Aras as a left tributary near Bagaran. The Akhuryan is 186 km (116 mi) long, and has a 9,670 km2 (3,730 sq mi) drainage basin.
The Akhuryan seen from the ancient Armenian capital of Ani in Turkey.
Akhuryan river and its basin (blue) within Armenia
The Armenia–Turkey border is 311 km in length and runs from the tripoint with Georgia in the north to the tripoint with Azerbaijan in the south. The land border has been closed since 3 April 1993. The border has been protected by guards of the Russian Federal Security Service since 1992. On 9 May 2024, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that Russian border guards will continue to serve on Armenia's borders with Turkey and Iran, at the request of the Armenian side. The border is set to reopen for diplomats and citizens of third countries in 2023.
International Armenia–Turkey border near Khor Virap
Border fence near Ani
The border along the Arkhurian river
Destroyed bridge over the Arkhurian river