The Tigris River originates in the mountains of eastern Turkey and flows southeast through Iraq before joining the Euphrates River to form the Shatt al-Arab waterway, which empties into the Persian Gulf.
Euphrates River:
The Euphrates River also begins in Turkey and runs parallel to the Tigris River through Iraq. Both rivers have played a vital role in the development of ancient civilizations, including the Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian civilizations, and continue to be important sources of water and fertile land for modern-day Iraq.