Orontes River

Orontes River
River, Middle East.

Rising in the Biqā Valley of Lebanon and flowing north between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains, it passes the cities of Hims and Ḥamāh in Syria, where it has been dammed to form Ḥimṣ Lake. Northwest of Ḥamāh it enters Turkey, where it flows west past the ancient city of Antioch and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. It is unnavigable for most of its 355 mi (571 km) length but is an important source of water for irrigation.

* * *

river, Asia
Arabic  Nahr al-ʿĀṣī,  

      river in southwestern Asia, draining a large part of the northern Levant into the Mediterranean Sea. From its source in Al-Biqāʿ (Bekaa) Valley of central Lebanon, the river flows northward between the parallel ranges of the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains into Syria, where it has been dammed to form Lake Qaṭṭīnah. Northwest of Ḥamāh the Orontes crosses the fertile Al-Ghāb, once a swampy depression, and enters Turkey, where it bends westward and empties into the sea near Samandağı. Largely unnavigable for most of its 250-mile (400-km) length, it is nonetheless an important source of irrigation water, especially between Ḥimṣ and Ḥamāh and in Al-Ghāb. Major tributaries of the Orontes include the Karasu and ʿAfrīn rivers. Ḥimṣ, Ḥamāh, and the ancient Greek city of Antioch (Antakya) are the largest riparian settlements.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Orontes River — in Turkey See Orontid dynasty for the Armenian kings and satraps called Orontes. The Orontes (Ὀρόντης) or ‘Āṣī (العاصي) is a river of Lebanon, Syria and Turkey …   Wikipedia

  • Orontes River —    The chief river of Syria, used or crossed by numerous ancient armies, merchants, and travelers, including many from Mesopotamia. The Orontes (or Axius) rises in the Bekaa Valley, in what is now Lebanon, and empties into the Mediterranean Sea… …   Ancient Mesopotamia dictioary

  • Orontes — Para otros usos véase Orontes (desambiguación) Río Orontes (o Asi) (نهر العاصي, Nahr al Assi Asi Nehri) El Orontes a su paso por Antioquía País que atraviesa …   Wikipedia Español

  • river — river1 riverless, adj. riverlike, adj. /riv euhr/, n. 1. a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel or series of diverging and converging channels. 2. a similar stream of something other than water: a… …   Universalium

  • Orontes I — Satrap of Sophene and Matiene This is a gold coin held at the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, dated to 362 BC. It is therefore of Orontes the first and not the second as written on this picture …   Wikipedia

  • Orontes — [ō rän′tēz] river in SW Asia, flowing from Lebanon through Syria & Turkey into the Mediterranean: c. 240 mi (386 km) …   English World dictionary

  • Orontes — geographical name river 246 miles (396 kilometers) Syria & Turkey rising in Lebanon in the Bekaa & flowing into the Mediterranean …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Orontes — /aw ron teez, oh ron /, n. a river in W Asia, flowing N from Lebanon through NW Syria and then SW past Antioch, Turkey, to the Mediterranean. 250 mi. (405 km) long. * * * …   Universalium

  • ORONTES —    the principal river of Syria, rises in the western slopes of Anti Lebanon, and flows northward through Syria, turning at last SW. to the Mediterranean; its course of 150 m. is through country in many parts well cultivated, past the towns of… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Orontes — O•ron•tes [[t]ɔˈrɒn tiz, oʊˈrɒn [/t]] n. geg a river in W Asia, flowing N from Lebanon through Syria and Turkey to the Mediterranean. 250 mi. (405 km) long …   From formal English to slang

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”