Shatt Al-Arab Size report

Shatt al-Arab is a river in southeastern Iraq formed by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates in the town of Al-Qurnah. It flows to the southeast, passing through the ports of Basra in Iraq and Abadan in Iran and into the Persian Gulf. In the latter half of its waterway, the east coast forms the 100 km natural border between Iraq and Iran.

In 1980, the Iran-Iraq war broke out between Iran and Iraq for eight years. The reasons for the outbreak of the war are complex, and there is a very important factor - who should own the channel of the Shatt al-Arab. The Shatt al-Arab is an important oil export channel for Middle Eastern countries. After the Iran-Iraq War, the waterway of the Shatt al-Arab was silted up by a large number of sunken ships and has not been restored so far.

Numerous ports in the Persian Gulf make the city in which it is located an important strategic position, and control of the Arabian Sea is equivalent to controlling the important oil exports of Iraq and Iran. Let's learn more about this large river's size and geographical features.

Size And Description Of Shatt al-Arab

The eastern bank of the estuary of the Shatt al-Arab forms the border between Iraq and Iran; from the eastern bank (Iran), the Kaun River is received, which brings a lot of sediment to the Shatt al-Arab River; it requires frequent dredging to pass the shallow draft steamships. In addition to the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, the Karkheh and the Karun sub-basins contribute water to the Shatt al-Arab.

Along the inhabited banks are groves of date palms, which are naturally irrigated by the tide. In the 1980s, the Shatt al-Arab was a battleground between Iraq and Iran; Iraq invaded Iran after claiming both sides of the river in the second half of 1980. At present, the two countries are still in dispute over the ownership of the river.

Length and Basin Area of Shatt al-Arab

Shatt al-Arab flows southeastward for 193 km (120 miles) and passes the Iraqi port of Basra and the Iranian port of Abadan before emptying into the Persian Gulf. The width of the Shatt al-Arab extends from about 37 meters at Basra to 800 meters at the mouth of the river.

Water Resources Development

The Shatt al-Arab is the main source of freshwater in the Persian Gulf and plays an important role in marine habitats along the northeastern coast of the Gulf. However, the massive development of water diversion and dam construction in the upstream areas of the Euphrates and Tigris Basins, as well as the drainage of Mesopotamian marshes, led to severe salinization of the river. It threatens not only the marine ecosystem of the Gulf but also agricultural activities along the Shatt al-Arab.

Habitat

The general climate of the Shatt al-Arab region is subtropical, hot, and arid. At the northern end of the Persian Gulf is a vast floodplain formed by the Euphrates, Tigris, and Karun Rivers, featuring huge permanent lakes, marshes, and forests. The river basin support numerous species. The marshy land is home to water birds, lizards, snakes, frogs, fish, and other animals. The Shatt al-Arab also hosts the world's largest date palm forest for commercial use.

Final Words

Besides serving as a navigation route, put to The Shatt al-Arab has enormous economic significance for both Iran and Iraq. This river is not only part of the sensitive border between the two countries but also Iraq's only navigational channel to the Persian Gulf, so Iraq is completely dependent on it as an important waterway. There are numerous ports along Shatt al-Arab on both sides of Iran and Iraq, which facilitate the transportation of goods and people from the interior of these countries to the high seas.