Today we are going to talk about a well-known river in the Mesopotamia region. Its about Tigris River. This river is linked to the Euphrates River since its name means "land between rivers." These two rivers begin their cycle individually but reach a point where they join to form a larger river. These rivers were one of the most important sources of water resources for civilizations where they could begin to domesticate animals.
In this article we are going to talk about the characteristics and importance of the Tigris River.
Key features
The Tigris River has a faster flow and flow than the Euphrates. It flows through Syria, Turkey, and Iraq in Southwest Asia. It is born about 30 kilometers away from the other river in Lake Hazar in the Taurus Mountains region. It travels from the east and then south for 400 kilometers through Turkish lands. In Syria it does not happen for a long time, but nothing else passes for 44 kilometers.
The area where it joins the Euphrates River is near the town of Al-Qurnah. The union of these two rivers gives rise to a new body of water with the name of Shatt al-Arab that ends up flowing into the Persian Gulf.
The Tigris River is of great importance as a source of freshwater and food, thanks to the large number of fish that inhabit it. Throughout its journey, we can follow it as it passes through culturally and economically renowned cities such as Mosul, Baghdad, and Samara. All of these regions are arid and semi-arid, and therefore, the river's contribution of freshwater is significant. Furthermore, its importance is reflected in the history of the region, which boasts ancient settlements and civilizations surrounding its waters.
The total length of the Tigris River is estimated to be about 1850 kilometers. The total bill owes about 375000 square kilometers and discharges an average of 1014 cubic kilometers per second of waterThis river not only joins the Euphrates to increase its flow, but is also fed by several rivers such as the Great Zab, the Little Zab, the Diala, the Botan, the Garzar and the Jabur.
There are not many data on the origin and motion of this river, although it is known that it has been active for more than 13 million years. This flow of water for so long has reshaped the geological landscape giving rise to some gorges and a valley in the lower parts.
Flora and fauna of the Tigris River
This river is quite poor in biodiversity since around 55 species of fish are known. Of all these species of fish 46 are native and 7 are endemic. That is, there are seven species that can only be found in this video and not anywhere in the entire world. We also have 6 species of amphibians among which the Neurergus crocatus. This is one of the most difficult amphibians to observe, so curious people who love observing animals try to venture to see if they can get a photograph.
Some of the most famous fish are Tenualosa ilisha, Oxynoemacheilus frenatus, Leuciscus vorax, Cobitis avicennae and Salmo tigridis. There are also some mammals and mollusks that have been seen in the plains and swamps of this river. We find the typical vivalve mollusk of the account called unio crassus and rodents like mammals called Nesokia indica and Nesokia bunnii.
It's not that this river stands out for its diverse flora and fauna, as many of its species are barely known. However, their importance lies in the fact that they are endemic and little-known species, making them unique in the Mesopotamian region. The diversity of aquatic ecosystems, as can be seen in the estuaries of the area also contributes to the complexity of the environment.
Economic importance of the Tigris River
The importance of the waters of this river is given because they flow through a mountainous terrain and have not been easy to take advantage of in the past. Despite this, it is a river that is quite commercially important with important cities on the banks such as Baghdad and Mosul. This river is economically more important than the Euphrates.
The water resources are used mainly for the irrigation of crops and for the consumption of the General population. With the arrival of renewable energies, water is also being used for the generation of hydroelectric energy. Many of the containers that are built along this river serve to prevent flooding and store drinking water. The flow of this river allows navigation although only a few small boats are limited. Furthermore, its importance is reflected in agricultural development, which is crucial to the region's economy, especially in areas close to the .
Starting in the XNUMXth century, all trade through its waters decreased notably due to the construction of rail lines and roads. There is some contamination of the waters around all the cities of Rivera. As expected, human activities in coastal areas are those that produce certain impacts on the water. In the highlands, including the Iraq area, the water quality appears to be quite good. Where most of the impacts arise is in the lower reaches.
Threats
River health is affected by a high rate of evaporation and the accumulation of salts and sediments. This is due to high temperatures and the continuous evaporation of water. The quality of the soil in the lower part also decreases due to climatic variations and poor soil drainage. To avoid excessive accumulation of water the previous containers have been built to the most abundant area (where the Tigris River and the Euphrates meet), but even so the soil has poor drainage so the water ends up accumulating and causing small floods.
Currently, this river is becoming increasingly polluted, especially during the summer. This is due to the accumulation of waste along its banks, which not only contributes to pollution but also creates a poor landscape and unpleasant odor. In addition, wastewater discharges from sewers and sand quarries are particularly harmful to flora and fauna.
