Rivers Flowing Into the Sea in Türkiye

Rivers Flowing Into the Sea in Türkiye, by Coast

Türkiye is surrounded by water on three sides, and its rivers flow towards four different seas: the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Aegean and the Mediterranean. A few great rivers, such as the Euphrates and the Tigris, leave the country entirely and reach the Persian Gulf. Did you know that the English word meander comes from a Turkish river, the Büyük Menderes, famous for its winding course?

Rivers of the Black Sea Coast

  • Kızılırmak: the longest river flowing entirely within Türkiye, at about 1,350 kilometres.
  • Yeşilırmak: flows past Amasya and forms a delta near Samsun.
  • Sakarya: crosses northwest Anatolia and reaches the sea east of Istanbul.
  • Filyos: enters the sea near Zonguldak.

Rivers of the Aegean Coast

The Aegean rivers flow through wide, fertile valleys that run east to west. The Gediz reaches the sea north of İzmir, the Küçük Menderes near Ephesus, and the Büyük Menderes south of Kuşadası. Over centuries their sediments filled in ancient harbours, leaving cities like Ephesus and Miletus far from the sea.

Rivers of the Mediterranean Coast

Mediterranean rivers are generally shorter and steeper, because the Taurus Mountains rise close to the shore. The Seyhan and Ceyhan water the Çukurova plain near Adana, the Göksu flows through Silifke and the Asi (Orontes) reaches the sea near Samandağ.

Rivers of Antalya

In Antalya, the Köprüçay, Manavgat, Aksu and Alara rivers carry cold mountain water to the sea. The Köprüçay is the region's rafting river, while the Manavgat is known for its waterfall and river boat trips.

Rivers of the Sea of Marmara

The Susurluk, Biga and Gönen rivers flow north into the Sea of Marmara, draining the farmland south of the sea.

Rivers that leave Türkiye

The Euphrates and Tigris rise in eastern Türkiye and flow through Syria and Iraq to the Persian Gulf. The Aras flows east towards the Caspian Sea.

Rivers and adventure

Many of these rivers are used for rafting, kayaking and boat trips, from the Çoruh in the northeast to the Köprüçay near Antalya.