The Tigris river flows from the Armenian Highlands through the Arabian and Syrian deserts and empties into the Persian Gulf.
The River is 1,750 km long and flows through the Taurus Mountains of eastern Turkey into the Euphrates River before becoming part of the Turkey-Syria border.
The River splits into several channels, with the main channel continuing southwards and two branches feeding the Central Marshes and Hawizeh Marshes before joining the Euphrates to form the Shatt-al-Arab.
Baghdad is on the banks of the Tigris river, and Basra straddles the Shatt al-Arab. In ancient times many cities stood near or on the Tigris.
Quick Navigation
Tigris River Facts for Kids
- The Tigris River in Iraq is 1,750 kilometers long,
- It provides irrigation to agricultural lands.
- Dams were built on the river Tigris to prevent flooding in the desert region
- The River has long been an important transport route in a largely desert country.
- The River’s drainage basin covers about 37,500 square kilometers.
- Due to high temperatures and low rainfall, the water quality is poor.
How old is the Tigris
Since the earliest known civilizations, Mesopotamia’s Tigris River has provided water, power, and transportation.
Is the Tigris River saltwater
In the region along the Tigris, fresh water is essential for agriculture, for which the people rely on the River.
More Fun Facts about the Tigris River
The Tigris-Euphrates River System defines the Middle East and includes the region that was the cradle of civilization.
The rivers are divided into three parts: the upper, middle, and lower courses. The upper courses are limited to eastern Anatolia, while the middle courses traverse the uplands of northern Syria and Iraq.
The rivers Tigris and Euphrates, which rise in close proximity, diverge sharply near the Turkish-Syrian border and gradually approach each other in their middle courses.
The Tigris and Euphrates rivers have shifted throughout the millennia, and the two rivers are connected by five navigable canals.
The rivers south of Baghdad have strongly contrasting characteristics. The Tigris is subject to great flooding and levee building, whereas the Euphrates is higher and has been used for irrigation throughout history.
