Where is the Orontes River?

Orontes River

The Orontes River is located in the southwest Asia region, and occupies a large area of ​​the northern Levant. The Orontes River originates from the Bekaa Valley located in the central Lebanon region, and flows northward between the mountain ranges of Lebanon and the mountain ranges extending between Lebanon and Syria, then in the northwest of Hama The Orontes River crosses the fertile forest, which was in the past a swamp. It then enters Turkish territory, then heads west to empty into the White Sea near Samandağı. The length of the river is about four hundred kilometers, and it is considered one of the most important sources of irrigation, especially in all regions. From Homs, Al-Hamamah, and Al-Ghab, and the main tributaries of the Orontes River include the Karasu River and the Afrīn River.

Areas covered by the Orontes River

The Orontes River extends over the lands of three countries: Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. It occupies six percent of Lebanese lands, thirty-six percent of Turkish lands, and fifty-eight percent of Syrian lands. The total area occupied by the Orontes River in all of these countries is about 350 km. 000 hectares of land, and the largest amount of river water is consumed in both Idlib Governorate and Wadi al-Ghab in Syria for use in irrigation. Two dams were built on the Orontes River, namely: Yarcili Dam and Karamanli Dam, and an agreement was made between Turkey and Syria to establish a new dam. Between its borders in 2009 AD, the largest amount of water from the Orontes River is consumed in Syria, then Lebanon, then Turkey.

Uses of the Orontes River

The waters of the Orontes River are mainly exploited for irrigation purposes, and many agricultural projects are being planned in the three countries through which it extends. The waters of the Orontes River are generally of good quality, but they deteriorate in the middle and lower reaches of the river, due to agricultural, urban, and industrial activities. .