Euphrates

The Euphrates is one of the longest rivers of Western Asia, with an estimated length around 2,800 kilometers (1,740 miles). It rises in eastern Turkey from the confluence of the Murat and Karasu rivers, then flows generally southwest. The river partly forms the border between Turkey and Syria in its middle course, passes through Syria, and then traverses Iraq, where it joins the Tigris to form the Shatt al-Arab, which empties into the Persian Gulf near Basra.

Throughout history, the Euphrates has been a crucial watercourse for the civilizations of Mesopotamia. Its floodplain supported extensive irrigation networks that enabled agricultural surplus and the growth of early urban centers such as Uruk, Ur, and Babylon. The river and its tributaries facilitated trade, transportation, and the development of writing, law, and centralized governance in the region.

In the modern era, the Euphrates is heavily engineered for hydroelectric power and irrigation. Turkey has built major dams along the river, including the Keban, Karakaya, and Atatürk Dams. In Syria, the Tabqa Dam controls part of the Euphrates, while in Iraq, various projects manage water for irrigation and power. While these infrastructures provide energy and agricultural benefits, they have reduced downstream flows, altered sediment transport, and sometimes intensified competition for water among riparian states.

Environmental and geopolitical pressures affect the river today. Drought, climate change, and upstream development challenge water security and ecosystem health in the Euphrates basin. The name Euphrates itself is derived from the ancient Greek Eupratēs, originally from Old Persian Ufrātu.