The Euphrates (Arabic الفرات, Turkish: Firat) is the western member of the pair of great rivers that define Mesopotamia, along with the Tigris, which originates in Turkish Armenia flows from the mountains of Anatolia into Syria and then through Iraq. The river then merges with the Tigris in southern Iraq to form the Shatt al-Arab, which in turn flows on into the Persian Gulf. Ihe river is 2780 km long. Like the Tigris there is much controversy over the river. The scarcity of water in the Middle East leaves Iraq in constant fear that Syria and Turkey will use up most of the water before it reaches them. In the Bible it is referred to as "The River".

Euphrates in Mythology

The river Euphrates is an ancient river referred to in the Bible as far back as the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2. It is the fourth river, after Pishon, Gihon, and Tigris, to form from the river flowing out of the garden. The river also marked one of the boundaries of the land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants.

The Bible also refers to the river in Revelation when in the end times it will dry up in preparation for the Battle of Armageddon.

Because of their origin in the Judeo-Christian view of the beginning of time, the Euphrates and the Tigris are thought to be the rivers where life itself began.

See also Tigris-Euphrates alluvial salt marsh