Tigris–Euphrates river system

The Tigris–Euphrates river system is a large river system in West Asia that flows into the Persian Gulf. Its two main rivers are the Tigris and Euphrates, with smaller rivers called tributaries joining them along the way.

The rivers begin in eastern Turkey, with the Tigris starting at Lake Hazar and the Euphrates starting near Karasu and the Murat River. They flow through valleys and gorges into the uplands of Syria and northern Iraq, and then move across the alluvial plain of central Iraq. Other small rivers join the Tigris from the Zagros Mountains to the east. The two rivers eventually meet at Al-Qurnah to form the Shatt al-Arab, which empties into the Persian Gulf. Together, the rivers and their tributaries cover an area of 879,790 square kilometres (339,690 sq mi), including most of Iraq and parts of Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Kuwait.

This area is very important in history because it was part of the Fertile Crescent, where the early Mesopotamian civilization began.

Geography

The Tigris–Euphrates Basin is shared between Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait. The two main rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, meet to form the Shatt al-Arab, which helps make up part of the border between Iran and Iraq.

This area has a special climate. The upper parts of the rivers get more rain and snow, while the lower parts are very hot and dry. When the snow melts in spring, it causes floods that help create marshes and lakes in the lowlands. The land between the two rivers is called Mesopotamia, and it is known as the "Cradle of Civilization" because it was where some of the world's first cities began. The marshes and lakes in this area are very important for plants, animals, and the environment near the Persian Gulf.

History

Some of the very first civilizations began near where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet. Many important empires, like Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, and Assyria, grew and changed over time in this area. Because it was part of the Fertile Crescent, this land became one of the earliest places where people learned to farm. Scientists have found old grains there that are more than 12,500 years old. Big cities such as Ur and Babylon used these rivers to help with trade and to share ideas with others. Long ago, people in Iran also invented a clever way to move water called the qanat system, which helped them grow crops even in dry places.

Ecology

The Tigris–Euphrates river system is home to many kinds of fish. Some of these fish, like barbs, can grow very large—up to two meters long! People have eaten these fish for thousands of years. Many fish move between the rivers and the marshes depending on the season.

The Mesopotamian Marshes in southern Iraq were once the largest wetlands in Western Eurasia. These marshes have tall plants like reeds and rushes that give shelter and food to many animals. Birds, water buffalo, and small animals all live here or visit during their travels. Sadly, these marshes were drained in the past for farming and other uses, but they are now coming back to life. Today, more than half of the marshes have returned, bringing back the plants and animals that depend on this special place.

Ecological threats

Iraq faces serious environmental problems like desertification and soil salination. For many years, people have farmed the land, which has hurt the natural environment. There isn't much water or plants growing there. Past government projects changed the flow of water, drying out areas where people lived and harming animals and plants.

The marshlands were once large wet areas full of life in the Tigris–Euphrates basin. Over time, projects to control water dried up these marshes, causing big changes to the environment and making life harder for people who lived there. Today, much of these marshes are gone because of drought, dams, and other projects that use the water. This loss has affected many animals and plants, including fish, wild boar, and water birds.

Climate change also hurts the region. It makes water levels in the rivers go down and sea levels rise, which could bring salty seawater into the rivers. With less clean water available and more people needing it, the problem of water scarcity will likely get worse in the future.

Water dispute

See also: Water conflict in the Middle East and North Africa

For many years, countries around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have disagreed about water rights. This began in the 1960s when Turkey started building dams to use the river water for farming and making electricity. Both Syria and Iraq worried about this, especially because the dams could change how much water flowed downstream.

In 2008, a serious drought made these worries even bigger, especially for Iraq. The country asked Turkey to let more water flow, and Turkey agreed to help for a short time. Leaders from Turkey, Syria, and Iraq worked together to better manage the rivers and share information. However, some big dams, like Turkey’s Ilisu Dam, still cause disagreements because they change the amount of water reaching Iraq. These arguments continue to affect relations between the countries.

In media

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers have appeared in some films. Two examples are Dawn of the World from 2008 and Zaman, The Man From The Reeds from 2003.