At 3 km from the estuary, in the area of the reservoir, the left bank tributary of Arsh flows into the river.

The river takes its source in the Zhuravlin Marsh located under the Yalangas ridge (1297.9 m), between the Ustinskaya mountains (Устинская) (865.9 m) and the Tikhaya (Тихая) (774.4 m).

The Tyrlyansk Reservoir is located at 54°13′40″N 58°35′00″E / 54.22778°N 58.58333°E / 54.22778; 58.58333 and was formed on the Tirlyan River as a result of the construction of a dam for the needs of recreation, fish farming, flood mitigation, and power generation.

The height above sea level is 195 m.[5][6] Despite the modest catchment areas of the river, this reservoir is known for its disastrous breakthrough on August 7, 1994.

[7] This abnormal discharge of 8,600,000 m³ of water is still considered one of the most damaging consequences of the Russian Federation.