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Shatt

Shatt commonly refers to Shatt al-Arab, a major waterway in southwestern Iran and southern Iraq. The word shatt in Arabic denotes a river channel, estuary, or shore, and al-Arab means “of the Arabs,” yielding a literal sense of “The River of the Arabs.” The river is a historic and strategic conduit in the Mesopotamian plain.

Geography and course: Shatt al-Arab is formed by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates near Qurnah,

Hydrology and environment: The Shatt al-Arab’s freshwater input has fluctuated due to upstream damming and water

Historical significance: The river has long been central to trade, settlement, and agriculture in Mesopotamia. In

See also: Shatt al-Arab Basin, Basra, Tigris-Euphrates system.

just
north
of
Basra.
It
runs
southeast
toward
the
Persian
Gulf,
with
a
length
typically
cited
in
the
range
of
180
to
210
kilometers.
The
lower
reaches
form
part
of
the
maritime
boundary
between
Iraq
and
Iran
in
places
and
flow
through
the
Basra
region,
where
it
connects
with
extensive
marshlands
and
the
Al-Faw
Peninsula.
The
waterway
serves
as
a
navigable
channel
for
local
shipping
and
access
to
the
port
facilities
of
Basra.
management,
contributing
to
salinity
changes
and
sedimentation.
Dredging
and
navigation-improvement
efforts
are
common,
but
pollution,
agricultural
runoff,
and
seasonal
variations
affect
water
quality
and
ecosystem
health.
the
modern
era
it
became
a
focal
point
of
conflict
during
the
Iran–Iraq
War,
with
battles
along
its
banks
and
near
Basra.
The
Shatt
al-Arab
continues
to
influence
border
delineation,
resource
management,
and
regional
commerce
in
the
Iraq-Iran
region.