List of rivers of Turkey Facts for Kids

Map of Turkey (and adjacent areas) with rivers

Turkey is a country with many important rivers! These rivers are like the lifelines of the land. They provide water for people, farms, and animals. They also create beautiful landscapes and have been important for travel and trade for thousands of years. We can group Turkey's rivers based on which sea they flow into.

Rivers Flowing into the Black Sea
- Rivers in European Turkey
- Rivers in Anatolian Turkey
Rivers Flowing into the Marmara Sea
Rivers Flowing into the Aegean Sea
- Rivers in European Turkey
- Rivers in Anatolian Turkey
Rivers Flowing into the Mediterranean Sea
Rivers Flowing into the Persian Gulf
Rivers Flowing into the Caspian Sea
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Rivers Flowing into the Black Sea

Many rivers in Turkey flow north into the Black Sea.

Rivers in European Turkey

These rivers start in the European part of Turkey.

Mutludere (also called Rezovo) starts in Turkey and flows into Bulgaria. It is about 112 kilometers (70 miles) long.
Veleka also flows into Bulgaria before reaching the Black Sea. It is 147 kilometers (91 miles) long, with 25 kilometers (16 miles) in Turkey.

Rivers in Anatolian Turkey

These rivers are found in the larger Asian part of Turkey, called Anatolia.

Kızılırmak is known as the 'Red River'. It is the longest river in Turkey, stretching about 1,350 kilometers (839 miles).
- The Delice River, Devrez River, and Gök River are some of its branches.
Sakarya River is the third longest river in Turkey, about 824 kilometers (512 miles) long.
- Important branches include the Seydisuyu, Porsuk River, and Ankara River.
Harşit River flows through the Gümüşhane Province and Giresun Province.
Yeşilırmak is known as the 'Green River'. It is 418 kilometers (260 miles) long.
- The Çekerek River and Kelkit River are its main branches.
Yağlıdere is a stream with two branches: the Kılıçlar River and Tohumluk River. They meet at a point called Üçköprü.
Aksu Deresi is another river in Giresun Province.
Batlama River also flows in Giresun.
Bartın River is a river in northern Turkey.
Çoruh River is known for its fast waters, great for rafting.
Gelevara Deresi is a smaller river.
Kara Dere is a river in the Black Sea region.
Machakhlistskal(i) is a river near the border with Georgia.
Terme River flows into the Black Sea near the town of Terme.
Filyos River is a river in the Zonguldak Province.

Rivers Flowing into the Marmara Sea

The Marmara Sea is a small sea that connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea.

Biga Çayı is a river that flows into the Marmara Sea.
Mustafakemalpaşa Çayı is another river in this region.
Simav Çayı (also called Susurluk Çayı) is a river that flows into the Marmara Sea.

Rivers Flowing into the Aegean Sea

The Aegean Sea is located to the west of Turkey.

Rivers in European Turkey

Meriç (also called Maritsa or Evros) starts in Bulgaria and flows through the European part of Turkey. It is 480 kilometers (298 miles) long.
- The Tunca is a 350-kilometer (217-mile) long branch in Bulgaria.
- The Ergene is a branch that flows inside Turkey.

Rivers in Anatolian Turkey

Azmak Creek is a small creek in the Aegean region.
Bakırçay is a river that flows into the Aegean Sea.
Büyük Menderes River is a long river, about 548 kilometers (341 miles) long. It is famous for its winding path, which is where the word "meander" comes from!
- The Lycus (river of Phrygia) is a branch, and the Cadmus (river) is a branch of the Lycus.
Cayster River (or Küçük Menderes) is 114 kilometers (71 miles) long.
Gediz River is 401 kilometers (249 miles) long.
- The Pactolus (also known as Sart Çayı) is a famous branch of the Gediz.
Karamenderes River is a river in the historical region of Troy.

Rivers Flowing into the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is to the south of Turkey.

Aksu is a river in the Antalya region.
Manavgat River is known for its beautiful waterfalls.
Köprüçay River is popular for rafting.
Dim River is a river near Alanya.
Kaledran Creek is a small creek.
Dragon Creek (Turkey) is another creek.
Sini Creek is a small stream.
Göksu is a river in Mersin Province.
Limonlu Çayı (also known as Lamas) is a river near Mersin.
Alata River is a river in the Mersin region.
Tömük Creek is a small creek.
Karacaoğlan River is a river in the southern part of Turkey.
Tece Creek is a small stream.
Mezitli River is a river near Mersin.
Efrenk River (also known as Müftü) is another river in Mersin.
Deliçay is a river in the Adana region.
Berdan River (also called Tarsus) flows near the city of Tarsus.
Seyhan River is a major river in southern Turkey.
- The Zamantı River is one of its main branches.
Ceyhan River is a long river, about 509 kilometers (316 miles) long.
- Its branches include the Harman Çayı and Göksun Çayı, which is 115 kilometers (71 miles) long.
Payas River is a river in Hatay Province.
Deli Çay River is another river in the south.
Asi River (also called Orontes) flows through Syria and Lebanon before reaching Turkey.
- The Afrin River is a branch, and the Karasu is a branch of the Afrin.

Rivers Flowing into the Persian Gulf

These rivers flow far to the southeast, eventually reaching the Persian Gulf.

Euphrates is one of the most famous rivers in the world, starting in Turkey and flowing through Syria and Iraq.
- Important branches include the Khabur River (with its own branch, the Jaghjagh River), the Sajur River, the Karasu, and the Murat River (with its branch, the Kocasu Creek (Hınıs)).
Tigris is another very famous river that starts in Turkey and flows through Iraq.
- Its branches include the Great Zab (Büyükzap Suyu), the Little Khabur, the Botan River (Uluçay), the Batman River, and the Hezir River.

Rivers Flowing into the Caspian Sea

These rivers flow east, eventually reaching the Caspian Sea.

Kura River starts in Turkey and flows through Georgia and Azerbaijan.
- The Aras River is a major branch of the Kura.
  - The Arpaçay River (also known as Akhurian) is a branch of the Aras. It starts in Armenia and forms part of the border between Armenia and Turkey.