Euphrates
The Euphrates in Halfeti in Şanlıurfa Province, Turkey
Map of the combined Tigris–Euphrates drainage basin (in yellow)
Etymology	from Akkadian Purattu, from Sumerian Burannu
Location
Country	Turkey, Iraq, Syria
Basin area	Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran
Source region	Armenian highlands [1]
Cities	Birecik, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, Mayadin, Haditha, Ramadi, Habbaniyah, Fallujah, Kufa, Samawah, Nasiriyah
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Murat Su, Turkey
• elevation	3,520 m (11,550 ft)
2nd source
• location	Kara Su, Turkey
• elevation	3,290 m (10,790 ft)
Source confluence
• location	Keban, Turkey
• elevation	610 m (2,000 ft)
Mouth	Shatt al-Arab
• location	Al-Qurnah, Basra Governorate, Iraq
• coordinates	31°0′18″N 47°26′31″E / 31.00500°N 47.44194°E / 31.00500; 47.44194
Length	Approx. 2,800 km (1,700 mi)
Basin size	Approx. 500,000 km2 (190,000 sq mi)
Discharge
• location	Hīt
• average	356 m3/s (12,600 cu ft/s)
• minimum	58 m3/s (2,000 cu ft/s)
• maximum	2,514 m3/s (88,800 cu ft/s)
Basin features
River system	Tigris–Euphrates river system
Tributaries
• left	Balikh, Khabur
• right	Sajur

The Euphrates ( /juːˈfreɪtiːz/ ^ⓘ yoo-FRAY-teez; see below) is a river in Western Asia that flows through Turkey, Syria and Iraq. It originates at the confluence of the Karasu and Murat rivers in the Armenian highlands of northeastern Turkey, through the valley, and merges with the Tigris at the Shatt al-Arab, ultimately emptying into the Persian Gulf. It is considered the most important river in the region, as it is a part of the river system that was defined and created the civilisation of Mesopotamia, as well as the Tigris.

The river flows through the Assyrian, Akkadian, Babylonian and Sumerian civilisations from the 4th to 2nd millenium BC. The river's heartland was formed Assyrian and Babylonian empires preceding the Persian rule extended to Mesopotamia. Alexander's conquest and his posthumous succession war spread the Hellenistic culture along the river before the Parthians conquered this area. The river once defined the border between the Roman and Persian empires. In the seventh century, the Muslim conquests totally eliminated the Mesopotamian culture.

The Euphrates is the fifteenth-longest river in Asia and the longest in Western Asia, at about 2,780 km (1,730 mi), and has a drainage area of 440,000 km² (170,000 sq mi) that covers six countries. The name is probably derived from the Greek "good announce".

The Euphrates Riverside is the location of many archaeological sites from the Mesopotamian era, including Mari, Babylon, Uruk, and Ur. Many dams are created along the river to reduce its flow, especially in Turkey. The freshwater in the river started to dry up as the low rainfall which affected the inhabitants and agricultural activities.

References