Zab

Zab is the name for two rivers in the northern part of the Near East that feed the Tigris River system: the Great Zab (Arabic: Nahr al-Zab al-Kabir) and the Little Zab (Nahr al-Zab al-Saghir). Both rivers have their sources in the eastern mountains of Turkey and flow southeast across the border into Iraq, where they join the Tigris. The Great Zab runs through the Iraqi Kurdistan region, while the Little Zab passes through similar terrain before their confluence with the Tigris in northern Iraq. The Zab rivers are among the major eastern tributaries of the Tigris and have long been integral to regional water resources.

In terms of use, the Zab rivers support irrigation and water supply for agricultural communities in northern Iraq and are involved in local water-management schemes designed to regulate flow and allocate water during dry periods. The rivers are also important for local ecosystems, providing habitats for freshwater species and maintaining riparian environments.

Environmental and management issues include seasonal variability in flow, sedimentation, and the pressure of irrigation demands. Cross-border water management between Turkey and Iraq has implications for flow regimes and regional planning. The Zab valley is part of the broader Mesopotamian landscape, with a long history of settlement and cultural exchange.