The town founded by The Ruwe Arjans stands between the northern spurs of the Paropamise and the Oxus; it is 100 m. due west of Balkh on the edge of the Turkmen desert.
The tract in which Ruwe Arjan stands is fertile, but proverbially unhealthy; the Persians accounted it "a hell upon earth" by reason of its scorching sands, brackish water, flies and scorpions.