Tigris
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The Tigris (Arabic: دجلة, Dijla; Turkish: Dicle) is a river that originates in the mountains of southeastern Turkey and flows southeastward until it exits Iraq. It is the second-largest river in the Mesopotamian region, after the Euphrates. Both rivers merge in southern Iraq, forming the Shatt al-Arab, which empties into the Persian Gulf.
The river passes through major cities including Diyarbakır (Turkey), Mosul, Tikrit, Samarra, and Baghdad (Iraq). Its waters are essential for irrigation of agricultural land, drinking water for cities, and hydroelectric power generation in the countries through which it flows.
Geography and hydrology
The Tigris source lies in the Taurus Mountains of southeastern Turkey, near Lake Hazar. After leaving Turkey, it forms a border between Turkey and Syria for a period, then enters Iraq. The river receives several tributaries from the east: the Greater Zab, the Lesser Zab, the Adhaim, and the Diyala. These tributaries originate in the Zagros Mountains and the Kurdish regions, which causes water levels to rise significantly during summer when snow melts in the highlands.
History
The region between the Tigris and Euphrates is called Mesopotamia, one of the earliest centers where agriculture, writing, and cities emerged. The banks of the Tigris were home to historic cities such as Ashur, Nineveh (near present-day Mosul), Seleucia, and Ctesiphon. Baghdad, founded in the eighth century, sits on both banks of the river, and the river was a key route for transport and trade in the region until recent times.
Water management and conflict
The riparian states lack a comprehensive agreement on water sharing. Turkey has constructed dams and irrigation projects on the Tigris and Euphrates, most notably the Ilısu Dam on the Tigris. Iraq operates the Mosul Dam and the Samarra Barrage, which diverts some water to the Tharthar depression to prevent flooding in Baghdad. Reduced water flow, hot climate change, and heavy agricultural demand have lowered the river's discharge, affecting agriculture and marshes in southern Iraq.