- right Delice River Official name Kizilirmak Delta Length 1,355 km Source İmranlı Country Turkey | - location Bafra, Samsun Province Designated April 15, 1998 Source elevation 2,000 m Mouth Black Sea Mouth elevation 0 | |
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- left Devrez River, Gök River - location İmranlı, Sivas Province | ||
The Kızılırmak (Turkish for "Red River"), also known as the Halys River (Ancient Greek: Ἅλυς), is the longest river entirely within Turkey. It is a source of hydroelectric power and is not used for navigation.
Contents
Map of Red River, Turkey
Geography
The Kızılırmak flows for a total of 1,355 kilometres (842 mi), 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.
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.