View source for Aras (river)

{{short description|River in West Asia}}
{{hatnote group|
{{redirect|Araks}}
{{redirect|Arax}}
{{redirect|Araz|other uses|Araz, Azerbaijan|and|Araz (given name)}}
}}
{{Infobox river
| name              = Aras
| image             = Jolfa-Aras2.jpg
| image_caption     = The Aras with [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic|Nakhchivan]] ([[Azerbaijan]]) to the right and [[Iran]] to the left
| mapframe          = yes
| mapframe-zoom     = 5
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
| mapframe-point    = none
| map_size          =
| map_alt           =
| map_caption       = Aras River highlighted on a map of the Kura River watershed
| source1 = Aras
| source1_location  = [[Bingöl Mountains]], Kocagün creek ([[Varto]]), Orman Creek ([[Hınıs]]), [[Tekman]], [[Erzurum Province|Erzurum]], [[Turkey]]
| source1_coordinates = {{Coord|39.395954|41.285200|format=dms|display=i}}
| source1_elevation = {{Convert|2288|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth             = [[Kura (South Caucasus river)|Kura]]
| mouth_location    = [[Sabirabad District|Sabirabad]], Azerbaijan
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|40.0184|N|48.4535|E|source:kolossus-dewiki|display=it}}
| mouth_elevation   = {{Convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
| subdivision_type1 = Countries
| subdivision_name1 = {{hlist|[[Turkey]]|[[Armenia]]|[[Iran]]|[[Azerbaijan]]}}
| length            = {{convert|1,072|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| basin_size        = {{convert|102,000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg    = {{convert|285|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| progression       = {{RKura}}
|name_other={{langx|hy|Արաքս}}, {{langx|az|Araz}}, {{langx|fa|ارس}}, {{langx|tr|Aras}}}}
The '''Aras'''{{efn|{{langx|grc|Αράξης}} {{translit|grc|Aráxēs}} {{IPA|grc|aráksɛːs|}}; {{langx|hy|Արաքս}} {{IPA|hy|ɑˈɾɑkʰs|}}; {{langx|az|Araz}} {{IPA|az|ɑˈɾɑz|}}; {{langx|fa|ارس}} {{IPA|fa|æˈɾæs|}}; {{langx|ka|არაქსი}} {{IPA|ka|aɾakʰsi|}}; {{langx|os|Аракс}} {{IPA|os|aˈrakʂ|}}; {{langx|tr|Aras}}}} is a transboundary river in the [[Caucasus]]. It rises in eastern [[Turkey]] and flows along the borders between Turkey and [[Armenia]], between Turkey and the [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic|Nakhchivan]] exclave of [[Azerbaijan]], between [[Iran]] and both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and, finally, through Azerbaijan where it flows into the [[Kura (South Caucasus river)|Kura river]] as a right tributary. It drains the south side of the [[Lesser Caucasus]] Mountains, while the Kura drains the north side of the Lesser Caucasus. The river's total length is {{cvt|1072|km|mi}} and its [[Drainage basin|watershed]] covers an area of {{cvt|102000|km2|mi2}}. The Aras is one of the longest rivers in the Caucasus.

==Names==
In classical antiquity, the river was known to the Greeks as '''Araxes''' ({{langx|el|Ἀράξης}}). Its modern [[Armenian language|Armenian]] name is ''Arax'' or ''Araks'' ({{langx|hy|Արաքս}}). Historically, it was called {{Transliteration|xcl|Eraskh}} ({{langx|xcl|Երասխ}}, {{Transliteration|hy|Yeraskh}} in modern pronunciation) by Armenians and its [[Old Georgian]] name is ''Rakhsi'' ({{lang|sk|რახსი}}). In [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]], the river's name is ''Araz'', in [[Turkish language|Turkish]] it's ''Aras''. In [[Farsi language|Persian]] and [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]] its name is {{lang|fa|ارس}} (''Aras'').
[[File:Shisha(shusha).jpg|thumb|The word "Aras" in a map by James Wyld from 1855]]
[[File:Aras river.jpg|thumb|Another map from 1856 that recognized this river with the word "Aras"]]

==Geography==
The Aras is supported by the Kocagün stream, Dallı stream and Orman stream from the [[Bingöl Mountains]] on the borders of [[Varto District|Varto]] district, which merge with it around the Kırıkhan village of [[Tekman]] district.<ref>{{cite web |title=Erzurum Mülkî İdare İl Haritası|url=https://www.harita.gov.tr/uploads/files/products/erzurum-mulk-idare-il-haritasi-1423.pdf|website=harita.gov.tr|publisher=Harita Genel Müdürlüğü|page=1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bingöl Dağları |url=https://www.dogadernegi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/dog016-bingol-daglari-onemli-doga-alanlari-kitabi.pdf |website=dogadernegi.org |publisher=Doğa Derneği |page=1}}</ref> It is surrounded by the [[Aras Mountains]] from the south.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aras Vadisi|url=https://www.dogadernegi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/dog027-aras-vadisi-onemli-doga-alanlari-kitabi.pdf|website=dogadernegi.org |publisher=Doğa Derneği |page=1}}</ref> The Aras meets the [[Akhuryan (river)|Akhuryan]] River southeast of [[Digor District|Digor]]. From Digor it flows along the [[Armenia–Turkey border]], then runs close to the corridor that connects Turkey to [[Azerbaijan]]'s [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic|Nakhchivan]] exclave, and continues along the Iranian-Armenian and the Iranian-Azerbaijani border.<ref name="IE">{{cite web|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/araxes-river|title=Araxes River|publisher=[[Encyclopædia Iranica]]|access-date=3 May 2018|archive-date=17 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517013151/http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/araxes-river|url-status=live}}</ref> The Aras is fed by several major tributaries, including the [[Akhuryan (river)|Arpa Çayı]] (also known as the Akhuryan), which gathers the waters from the [[Kars River]] and [[Lake Çıldır]] located in Turkey, the [[Hrazdan (river)|Hrazdan River]], which empties into [[Lake Sevan]] in Armenia, and the Qareh Sū, originating from the Sabalān Mountains in northeastern Iranian Azerbaijan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aras River {{!}} river, Asia {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Aras-River |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

The lowest point in Armenia is a point along the Aras at an elevation of {{convert|380|m|ft}}.<ref name=":02">{{citation-attribution|1={{Cite book|last=Curtis|first=Glenn E.|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/94045459/|title=Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia : country studies|date=1995|publisher=[[Federal Research Division]]|isbn=0-8444-0848-4|edition=1st|location=Washington, D.C.|pages=25–29|oclc=31709972}}}}</ref>

===Tributaries===

The following rivers are tributaries of the Aras, from source to mouth:<ref name="u"/><ref>[http://bse.sci-lib.com/article067502.html Аракс], [[Great Soviet Encyclopedia]]</ref><ref>[https://www.ais.unwater.org/ais/aiscm/getprojectdoc.php?docid=773 Reducing Trans-boundary Degradation of the Kura-Aras River Basin], [[UN-Water]]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Akhuryan (river)|Akhuryan]] (left)
*Metsamor (left)
*[[Hrazdan (river)|Hrazdan]] (left)
*[[Azat (river)|Azat]] (left)
*Vedi (left)
*[[Arpa (river)|Arpa]] (left)
*[[Zangmar River|Zangmar]] (right)
*Naxçıvançay (left)
*[[Qatur River|Qatur]] (right)
*Hajilarchay (right)
*[[Meghri (river)|Meghri]] (left)
*Bəsitçay (left)
*[[Voghji/Oxçu (river)|Voghji]] (left)
*Kaleybarchay (right)
*[[Hakari (river)|Hakari]] (left)
*Qarasu/Dareh-Rud (right)
*Köndələnçay (left)
{{div col end}}

==Etymology and history==
[[File:Aras River in Persian (IRAN) Empire 1747 map.JPG|thumb|260px|Aras River in the Persian Empire in a map from 1747|alt=A map of the Aras from 1747.]]
In [[Armenians|Armenian]] tradition, the river is named after [[wikt:Արաստ|Arast]], a great-grandson of the legendary Armenian patriarch [[Hayk|Haik]].<ref name="Bauer"/> The name was later [[Greek language|Hellenized]] to ''Araxes'' and was applied to the [[Kura–Araxes culture]], a prehistoric people who flourished in the valleys of the Kura and Aras. The river is also mentioned in the last chapter of Virgil's ''Aeneid'' VIII, as "angry at the bridge," since the Romans built a bridge over it so that it is thereby conquered. The river Aras has been associated with the biblical rivers [[Gihon]] and [[Pishon]].<ref name="sm"/> [[Robert H. Hewsen]] described Aras as the only "true river" of [[Armenian Highlands|Armenia]] and as "Mother Araxes," a symbol of pride to the Armenian people.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Armenian People From Ancient to Modern Times. Volume I: The Dynastic Periods: From Antiquity to the Fourteenth Century|date=1997|publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]]|isbn=0-312-10169-4|location=New York|page=[https://archive.org/details/armenianpeoplefr00rich_0/page/7 7]|last1=Hewsen|first1=Robert|author-link1=Robert H. Hewsen|editor1-last=Hovannisian|editor1-first=Richard G.|editor1-link=Richard G. Hovannisian|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/armenianpeoplefr00rich_0/page/7}}</ref>

According to a legend cited by [[Strabo]], in ancient times, the Araxes river in [[Armenia]] had no outflow to the [[Caspian Sea]], but spread out in plains and created a lake without outflow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0198:book=11:chapter=14&highlight=plains|title=Strabo, Geography, Book 11, chapter 14|website=www.perseus.tufts.edu|access-date=2018-01-15|archive-date=2019-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730115443/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text%3Fdoc%3DPerseus:text:1999.01.0198:book%3D11:chapter%3D14%26highlight%3Dplains|url-status=live}}</ref>

During Islamic times, the Araxes became known in Arabic parlance as '''al-Rass''' (not to be confused with modern-day [[Ar Rass]]) and in Perso-Turkish contexts as '''Aras'''.<ref name=IE/>

In modern history, the Aras gained significance as a geographic political boundary. Under the terms of the [[Treaty of Gulistan]] and the [[Treaty of Turkmenchay]], the river was chosen as the border limit between the [[Russian Empire]] and [[Qajar dynasty|Qajar Iran]], as the latter was forced to cede its [[Caucasus|Caucasian]] territories to Russia.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KTq2BQAAQBAJ&q=russo+persian+war+1804-1813&pg=PA728|title=Russia at War: From the Mongol Conquest to Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Beyond ...|isbn=9781598849486|access-date=23 April 2015|last1=Dowling|first1=Timothy C.|date=2 December 2014|publisher=Abc-Clio |archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204221910/https://books.google.com/books?id=KTq2BQAAQBAJ&q=russo+persian+war+1804-1813&pg=PA728|url-status=live}}</ref> Because of these 19th-century border changes, one modern, not widely accepted scheme draws Aras River as the line of [[Boundary between Europe and Asia|continental demarcation between Europe and Asia]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Caucasus |title=Caucasus |access-date=2019-09-10 |archive-date=2020-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504123439/https://www.britannica.com/place/Caucasus |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1963–1970, Iran and the [[Soviet Union]] built the [[Aras Dam]] near the Azerbaijani city of [[Nakhchivan (city)|Nakhchivan]], creating the Aras Reservoir. In 1999–2008, Iran built the [[Khoda Afarin Dam]] near the historic [[Khudafarin Bridges]], creating the [[Khoda Afarin Reservoir]], and the [[Giz Galasi Dam]] 12&nbsp;km down the river, creating the [[Giz Galasi Reservoir]]. Iran and Armenia are planning to build the [[Meghri Dam]] near the Armenian town of [[Meghri]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=News: Meghry Power Plant Kicks off |date=17 November 2012 |publisher=Iran Water & Power Resources Development Co. |url=http://en.iwpco.ir/Lists/News/DispForm.aspx?ID=151 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313020814/http://en.iwpco.ir/Lists/News/DispForm.aspx?ID=151 |archive-date=13 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Aras Valley==
In 2006, a bird research and education center was established by [[KuzeyDoğa]], a Turkish non-governmental organization for nature conservation, in the Aras Valley at the village Yukarı Çıyrıklı, in the [[Tuzluca]] district of [[Iğdır Province]], Turkey. It is one of Turkey's two bird-ringing stations that remain active yearly.<ref name="r1"/> Between 2006 and 2021, more than 145,000 birds of 201 species were ringed, and 306 bird species were observed at this station. Sixty-three percent of the 489 bird species found in Turkey are recorded at this wetland, making it eastern Turkey's most species-rich wetland for birds. The number of ringed and observed 306 bird species comprises 90&nbsp;percent of the 340 bird species in Iğdır Province, the most bird species rich landlocked province of Turkey. Seven new bird species were observed during the bird ringing activities in 2012 alone, including the [[bird of prey|raptor]] [[Shikra]], or Little Banded Goshawk (''Accipiter badius''), which was new to Turkey's avifauna.<ref name="ntv1"/><ref name="ntv2"/>

A Biology professor at the [[University of Utah]] and a president of the KuzeyDoğa Society, Çağan Şekercioğlu, appealed to the [[Ministry of Forest and Water Management (Turkey)|Ministry of Forest and Water Management]] to drop the Tuzluca Dam project, which would destroy the wetland harboring bird wildlife in the Aras Valley.<ref name="ntv1"/><ref name="ag"/> In 2013, the ministry granted the site the highest level of conservation status (Nature Conservation Area).

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150" style="font-size:88%; line-height:120%" styles="font-size:88%; line-height:130%">
File:Aras-02.jpg|The Aras in the [[Poldasht District]]
File:Aras Nehri.jpg|The Aras in [[Iğdır]]
File:Aras River, Turkey-Armenia-Iran Border Region.JPG|Photograph of the Aras from space
File:Araz River.jpg|The Araz near [[Jolfa, Iran (city)|Joulfa]]
File:Aras River with Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan at Right - Iran at Left - Iranian Azerbaijan - Iran (7421349614).jpg|Aras River with [[Iran]] to the left and (Karabakh Plains) / [[Azerbaijan]] to the right
File:Aras river at Nurduz 04.jpg |Aras river at [[Nurduz]], the border post between [[Iran]] and [[Armenia]]
</gallery>

==See also==
{{commons}}
* [[Armenia–Iran border]]
* [[Armenia–Turkey border]]
* [[Azerbaijan–Iran border]]
* [[Geography of Armenia]]
* [[Geography of Azerbaijan]]
* [[Geography of Iran]]
* [[Geography of Turkey]]
* [[Environment of Azerbaijan]]
* [[List of rivers of Armenia]]
* [[List of lakes of Armenia]]
* [[Rivers and lakes in Azerbaijan]]
* [[Giz Galasi Reservoir]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
<references>
<ref name="u">{{cite book |url=http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/epr/epr_studies/armenia.pdf |publisher=United Nations Economic Commission for Europe |title=Environmental Performance Reviews - Armenia |date=2000 |place=New York and Geneva |isbn=92-1-116775-2 |access-date=2014-07-13 |archive-date=2014-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227130018/http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/epr/epr_studies/armenia.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="Bauer">{{cite book |author=Bauer-Manndorff, Elisabeth |title=Armenia: Past and Present |publisher=Armenian Prelacy |date=1981 |page=49 |asin=B0006EXQ9C }}</ref>
<ref name="sm">"Calumet, A. D. 1672–1757, Rosebmuller, 1768–1835, Kell, 1807–1888, and some other scholars believed the source river [for Eden] was a region of springs. The Pishon and Gihon were mountain streams. The former may have been the Phasis or Araxes, and the latter the Oxus." Duncan, George S. (October 1929) "The Birthplace of Man" ''The Scientific Monthly'' 29(4): pp. 359-362, p. 360</ref>
<ref name="ntv1">{{cite news |url=http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/id/25421859/ |newspaper=[[NTV (Turkey)|NTV MSNBC]] |title=Aras Kuş Cenneti korunmalı |date=13 February 2013 |language=tr |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714155659/http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/id/25421859/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ag">{{cite news |url=http://www.akdenizgazete.com/turkiye/aras-nehrindeki-kuslara-abdden-el-uzatti-h12401.html |newspaper=Akdeniz Gazete |title=Aras Nehri'ndeki Kuşlara ABD'den El Uzattı |language=tr |access-date=13 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714145416/http://www.akdenizgazete.com/turkiye/aras-nehrindeki-kuslara-abdden-el-uzatti-h12401.html |archive-date=14 July 2014 }} |</ref>
<ref name="ntv2">{{cite news |url=http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/id/25381357/ |newspaper=[[NTV (Turkey)|NTV MSNBC]] |title=Afrikalı atmaca Türkiye'de halkalandı |date=13 February 2013 |language=tr |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=15 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715002701/http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/id/25381357/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="r1">{{cite news |url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/aras_kus_cenneti_mujdesi-1143773 |newspaper=[[Radikal]] |title=Aras Kuş Cenneti müjdesi |author=Ocak, Serkan |date=28 July 2013 |language=tr |access-date=13 July 2014 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714170725/http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/aras_kus_cenneti_mujdesi-1143773 |url-status=live }}</ref>
</references>

{{Rivers of Armenia}}
{{Rivers and lakes in Azerbaijan}}
{{Rivers of Iran}}
{{Rivers of Turkey}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:International rivers of Asia]]
[[Category:Rivers of Turkey]]
[[Category:Rivers of Armenia]]
[[Category:Rivers of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Rivers of Iran]]
[[Category:Armenia–Iran border]]
[[Category:Armenia–Turkey border]]
[[Category:National symbols of Armenia]]
[[Category:Azerbaijan–Iran border]]
[[Category:Azerbaijan–Turkey border]]
[[Category:Landforms of Iğdır Province]]
[[Category:Landforms of Erzurum Province]]
[[Category:Border rivers]]
[[Category:Lowest points of countries]]