Aras (river)

Aras
Armenian: Արաքս, Azerbaijani: Araz, Persian: ارس, Turkish: Aras
The Aras with Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan) to the right and Iran to the left
Map
Aras River highlighted on a map of the Kura River watershed
Location
Countries
Physical characteristics
SourceAras
 • locationBingöl Mountains, Kocagün creek (Varto), Orman Creek (Hınıs), Tekman, Erzurum, Turkey
 • coordinates39°23′45″N 41°17′07″E / 39.395954°N 41.285200°E / 39.395954; 41.285200
 • elevation2,288 m (7,507 ft)
MouthKura
 • location
Sabirabad, Azerbaijan
 • coordinates
40°01′06″N 48°27′13″E / 40.0184°N 48.4535°E / 40.0184; 48.4535
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length1,072 km (666 mi)
Basin size102,000 km2 (39,000 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average285 m3/s (10,100 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionKuraCaspian Sea

The Aras (also known as the Araks, Arax, Araxes, or Araz) is a river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan, between Iran and both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and, finally, through Azerbaijan where it flows into the Kura river. It drains the south side of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, while the Kura drains the north side of the Lesser Caucasus. The river's total length is 1,072 km (666 mi) and its watershed covers an area of 102,000 km2 (39,000 sq mi). The Aras is one of the longest rivers in the Caucasus.