Balikh River

Balikh
Arabic: البليخ
Map (in French) of the Syro–Turkish part of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, with the Balikh shown in the center left
Location
CountrySyria
Basin areaTurkey
CitiesTell Abyad, Raqqa
Physical characteristics
SourceAin al-Arous
 • coordinates36°40′13″N 38°56′24″E / 36.67028°N 38.94000°E / 36.67028; 38.94000
 • elevation350 m (1,150 ft)approx.
MouthEuphrates
 • coordinates
35°55′21″N 39°4′40″E / 35.92250°N 39.07778°E / 35.92250; 39.07778
 • elevation
250 m (820 ft)approx.
Length100 km (62 mi)approx.
Basin size14,400 km2 (5,600 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • locationAin al-Arous[1]
 • average6 m3/s (210 cu ft/s)
 • minimum5 m3/s (180 cu ft/s)
 • maximum12 m3/s (420 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftJullab, Wadi al-Kheder
 • rightWadi Qaramogh
[2][3][4]

The Balikh River (Arabic: نهر البليخ) is a perennial river that originates in the spring of Ain al-Arous near Tell Abyad in the Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests ecoregion. It flows due south and joins the Euphrates at the modern city of Raqqa. The Balikh is the second largest tributary to the Euphrates in Syria, after the Khabur River. It is an important source of water and large sections have recently been subjected to canalization.

  1. ^ The discharge figures predate the introduction of large-scale irrigation works in the valley and may have changed significantly since then.
  2. ^ Wirth, E. (1971). Syrien. Eine geographische Landeskunde. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft. p. 110. ISBN 3-534-02864-3.
  3. ^ Wilkinson, T.J. (1998). "Water and human settlement in the Balikh Valley, Syria: investigations from 1992-1995". Journal of Field Archaeology. 25 (1). Boston University: 63–87. doi:10.2307/530458. JSTOR 530458.
  4. ^ "Volume I: Overview of present conditions and current use of the water in the marshlands area/Book 1: Water resources" (PDF). New Eden Master Plan for integrated water resources management in the marshlands areas. New Eden Group. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2009.