Euphrates

Euphrates
The Euphrates near Urfa (Turkey)
Map of the combined Tigris–Euphrates drainage basin (in yellow)
Etymology	from Greek, from Old Persian Ufrātu, from Elamite ú-ip-ra-tu-iš
Location
Country	Turkey, Iraq, Syria
Basin area	Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran
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; 47.44194Coordinates: 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/ (listen)) is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia (the "Land Between the Rivers"). Originating in Turkey, the Euphrates flows through Syria and Iraq to join the Tigris in the Shatt al-Arab, which empties into the Persian Gulf.

Etymology[]

The Ancient Greek form Euphrátēs (Ancient Greek: Εὐφράτης, as if from Greek εὖ "good" and ϕράζω "I announce or declare") was adapted from Old Persian