Kızılırmak River

For other uses, see Kızılırmak (disambiguation).

Kızılırmak
Halys
River
Kızılırmak in İskilip (Taybi Ovası)
Country	Turkey
Tributaries
- left	Devrez River, Gök River
- right	Delice River
Cities	Sivas, Kırşehir, Kırıkkale
Source
- location	İmranlı, Sivas Province
- elevation	2,000 m (6,562 ft)
- coordinates	39°48′N 38°18′E
Mouth	Black Sea
- location	Bafra, Samsun Province
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	41°44′04″N 35°57′23″E
Length	1,355 km (842 mi)
Map of the Kızılırmak watershed
Ramsar Wetland
Official name: Kizilirmak Delta
Designated:	April 15, 1998

geographical position of Kızılırmak

The Kızılırmak (Turkish for "Red River"), also known as the Halys River (Ancient Greek: Ἅλυς), is the longest river in Turkey among the rivers which originate and end in Turkey (both origin and mouth being in Turkey). It is a source of hydroelectric power and is not used for navigation.

Geography

The Kızılırmak flows for a total of 1,355 kilometers, rising in Eastern Anatolia around 39.8°N 38.3°E / 39.8; 38.3 (Kızılırmak source), flowing first to the west and southwest until 38.7°N 34.8°E / 38.7; 34.8, then forming a wide arch, the "Halys bend", flowing first to the west, then to the northwest, passing to the northeast of Lake Tuz, then to the north and northeast, where it is joined by its major tributary, the Delice River (also known by its Greek name Cappadox) at 40.47°N 34.14°E / 40.47; 34.14, and after zigzagging to the northwest to the confluence with the Devrez River at 41.10°N 34.42°E / 41.10; 34.42, and back to the northeast, joining the Gökırmak before finally flowing through its delta into the Black Sea at 41.72°N 35.95°E / 41.72; 35.95 (Kızılırmak mouth). Dams on the river include the Boyabat, Altınkaya and Derbent.

History

The Hittites called it the Maraššantiya. It formed the western boundary of Hatti, the core land of the Hittite empire. In Classical Antiquity, it was the boundary between Asia Minor and the rest of Asia, and also the boundary between Pontos and Paphlagonia. As the site of the Battle of Halys or Battle of the Eclipse on May 28, 585 BC, it was the border between Lydia to the west and Media to the east until Croesus of Lydia crossed it to attack Cyrus the Great in 547 BC. He was defeated and Persia expanded to the Aegean Sea.

Agriculture

The river water is used to grow rice and in some areas water buffalo are kept.

Water buffalo

in Nevşehir Province

In popular culture

The historical fiction manga Red River is named after and largely set in the Kızılırmak basin, during the age of the Hittites.

External links

• Livius.org: Halys - Photos
• sdu.dk/halys

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