Tigris
| Tigris | |
|---|---|
Tigris river in Baghdad | |
Map of the Tigris–Euphrates river system | |
| Location | |
| Country | Turkey, Syria, Iraq |
| Source region | Armenian Highlands |
| Cities | Elazığ, Diyarbakır, Mosul, Baghdad |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Lake Hazar |
| • location | Gölardı, Turkey |
| • coordinates | 38°29′0″N 39°25′0″E / 38.48333°N 39.41667°E |
| • elevation | 1,150 m (3,770 ft) |
| Mouth | Shatt al-Arab |
• location | Al-Qurnah, Iraq |
• coordinates | 31°0′18″N 47°26′31″E / 31.00500°N 47.44194°E |
• elevation | 1 m (3.3 ft) |
| Length | 1,900 km (1,200 mi) |
| Basin size | 375,000 km2 (145,000 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Baghdad |
| • average | 1,014 m3/s (35,800 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 337 m3/s (11,900 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 2,779 m3/s (98,100 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Shatt al-Arab → Persian Gulf |
| River system | Tigris–Euphrates river system |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Garzan, Botan, Khabur, Greater Zab, Lesser Zab, 'Adhaim, Cizre, Diyala |
| • right | Wadi Tharthar |
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The Tigris (/ˈtaɪɡrɪs/ TY-griss; see below) is the eastern of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of the Armenian Highlands through the Syrian and Arabian Deserts, before merging with the Euphrates and reaching to the Persian Gulf.
The Tigris passes through historical cities like Mosul, Tikrit, Samarra, and Baghdad. It is also home to archaeological sites and ancient religious communities, including the Mandaeans, who use it for baptism. In ancient times, the Tigris nurtured the Assyrian Empire, with remnants like the relief of King Tiglath-Pileser.
Today, the Tigris faces modern threats from geopolitical instability, dam projects, poor water management, and climate change, leading to concerns about its sustainability. Efforts to protect and preserve the river's legacy are ongoing, with local archaeologists and activists working to safeguard its future.