[1] The river drains a basin of 324 square kilometres (125 sq mi) in the eastern part of Søhøjlandet and discharges into the Bay of Aarhus which is an embayment of the Kattegat.

It originates 54 metres (177 ft) above sea level in the swampy bogland of Astrup Mose close to Stilling-Solbjerg Lake, southwest of the city of Aarhus (56°6' northern latitude, 10°9' eastern longitude) and exits into Aarhus Harbour at 56°9' northern latitude, 10°13' eastern longitude.

Through the 20th century, the river and its ecosystem went into a serious decline due to nutrient pollution from household wastewater and farmland run-off.

Today, after some costly efforts to restore the damaging effects of the destructive eutrofication, the ecosystem and biodiversity of the Aarhus River is recovering and now includes a wide range of fish species once again.

In the process, the last long stretch was named Åboulevarden and created a new transport route to the thriving industrial harbour.