Khabur (Tigris)

The Khabur or Little Khabur (, Ava Xabûr or Xabîr, , Khabir or Habur Suyu (Habur Water)) is river that rises in Turkey and joins the Tigris in Iraq. The river originates in the Uludere District in Turkey and emerges from a number of small rivers flowing off the Bolkar ountain range south-east of Hakkâri. From there, it generally flows south, crossing the Turkish-Iraqi border into Iraqi Kurdistan before turning west toward the Tigris. Zakho is an important town along the river, where the ancient Delal Bridge crosses the river. A few kilometres west of Zakho, the Little Khabur is joined by its main tributary the Hezil Suyu (or Nizil river or Hezil Çayi). From there onwards the Little Khabur river is also called (and often mistaken with) the Hezil Suyu. The Little Khabur joins the Tigris at the tripoint of Turkey, Iraq and Syria. Downstream from Zakho the Little Khabur river is the natural international border between Turkey and Iraq for around 20 km.