Both the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers rise in central Turkey. The Euphrates has recently been dammed at Keban to provide hydroelectric power for Anatolia. The upper Euphrates consists of two main branches, the more northerly Karasu and the Murat which is longer and carries more water. The earthen Keban Dam was built near the point where these two meet. Near Erzurum the Karasu is separated by only a few kilometers from the Araxes River which flows east to the Caspian Sea. Together the valleys of these two have long made a natural path between northern Persia and the West.
The Murat rises in the mountains north of Lake Van. Cuneiform inscriptions have been found in several places along both branches of the river, among them at Palu and Kale. South of Kale the Euphrates cuts through the Southeast Taurus Mountains in a wild succession of rapids and cataracts. At Keferdiz it runs close to the source of the Tigris at Lake Hazar. In early times it was important as a political boundary: it separated the Assyrian and Hittite kingdoms; later it was the eastern end of the Roman Empire.
At Samosata (Samsat), the capital of the Seleucid kings of Commagene, the Persian Royal Road from Sardis to Susa crossed the river. Birtha (Birecik) was the ford (a bridge was built there in 1953) on the main road from İskenderun (Alexan-dretta) to Mosul.
The Tigris is a shorter river but in its lower reaches carries a greater volume of water than the Euphrates. Like the Euphrates, it is divided in two main branches, the town of Bitlis near Lake Van being on one, the city of Diyarbakır on the other. There are numerous cuneiform inscriptions and bas-reliefs at points in the cliffs along the western and the eastern branches of the Tigris, and also at its two sources.
Tigris & Euphrates Rivers ( Dicle and Firat ),
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This bridge has historic meaning to me not only because of its age and beauty, but because it is located nearby the area of the river where my grandmothers and ancestors used to do their wash before the Armenian Genocide of 1915. You can access it by car from the Mardin Gate, and it’s worth the short detour to see its marvelous construction. The scenery is beautiful.
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The city’s mayor as been trying to renovate and maintain the historic city wall encircling the city despit the lack of funds fom the central government, whichhas also blocked charitable help from Germany and others.
However, the city walls remain intact and thy encircle the old city. You can go up the steps of the walls and enjoy the breath taking views of the River Tigris and the valleys below.
Spring is the best time to visit Diyarbakir, winter is cold and summer is hot..spring is perfect. The same Mayor is also investing money into the renovation of the Armenian and other churches, and monasteries, temples ,and museums. There are regular plays at the culture house. I suggest you drive towards the city of Mardin if you have time..it is equally incredibly ancient and mystical built upon a mountain side.
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The Tigris is the one of the greatest rivers..