Chärjew, also Chardzhou, city in far eastern Turkmenistan in Chärjew province, along the middle course of the Amu Darya. Chärjew is about 585 km (about 360 mi) east of Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, and about 140 km (about 85 mi) southwest of Bukhoro, Uzbekistan. Chärjew is the second largest city in Turkmenistan after Ashgabat. It was once a major river and rail junction and transshipment point, as well as the site of the largest port complex on the Amu Darya. With increased upstream water withdrawals for irrigation, the Amu Darya downstream from Chärjew is no longer navigable except by flat-bottom boats, and the region's economy has suffered. Industrial activity is associated with agriculture, and includes cotton growing and processing, textile manufacturing, and phosphate fertilizer production. A branch of the Turkmen Pedagogical Institute is in Chärjew.
Chärjew was founded as a Russian military settlement in 1886. The Trans-Caspian railroad followed soon after. Chärjew was known as Novy Chärjew (New Chärjew ) from 1886 until 1937. Population (1990 estimate) 164,000.
