- The Shatt al-Arab is a Tidal River part of which forms the Border between Iraq and Iran, and extends for 120 miles (200 km) inland from the Persian Gulf,
- Three rivers and the Mesopotamian Marshes all drain out through the Shatt al-Arab.
Mesopotamian Marshes
- This is a vast floodplain formed by the confluence of the Tigris, the Euphrates and the Karen River from Iran.
- It consists of enormous lakes, huge marshes and forests in a sub-tropical climate.
- The Marshes are divided into three Regions, the Quma Marshes (mostly drained today), the Howizeh Marshes and the Hammar Marshes (also mostly drained since 1990).
- The Karen River joins the Waterway from Iran, bringing an enormous quantity of silt which requires constant dredging for ocean going vessels to reach Basra, Iraq’s main Port.
The Marsh Arabs
- The Shatt al-Arab flows through the Mesopotamian Marshlands where the Marsh Arabs have lived since at least the ninth century CE.
- The Marsh Arabs live in Reed houses which can only be reached by boat.
- They may be the descendants of the Sumerian Empire, in which case their origins date back to 3,000 BCE.
Date Palm Forests
- The Region holds one of the largest Date Palm Forests in the world and attracts migrating water birds who spend the winters there.
Shatt al-Arab River