karoon

Karun, also transliterated Karoon, is a major river in southwestern Iran. It is among the longest rivers in the country and the longest in the Khuzestan basin, rising in the Zagros Mountains and flowing generally southwest through Khuzestan Province before discharging into the Persian Gulf. The Karun's basin has supported irrigation and settlement for millennia, and the river's lower stretch forms a broad delta and estuary.

Course and hydrology: The river originates in the Zagros and traverses a largely flat, arid to semi-arid landscape, supporting extensive agricultural lands in Khuzestan. Its lower valley includes a delta that historically fed wetlands and marshes; upstream water use and dam construction have reduced flow and altered sediment delivery to the delta.

Infrastructure: Iran has constructed several dams on the Karun for hydroelectric power and irrigation, including the Gotvand Dam in the lower Karun valley and the Karun-1 complex near Ahvaz. These structures regulate water, create reservoirs, and affect local ecology.

History and culture: The Karun valley hosts sites associated with the ancient Elamite civilization; the Susiana Plain along the river was a key heartland for early urban development. The river has long supported agriculture, trade, and transportation in Khuzestan.

Name and variations: The river is sometimes spelled Karoon in English-language sources, reflecting different transliteration systems. The term Karun/Karoon is used interchangeably in many references.