Sirwan River

Quick Facts

• Type: River
• Length: About 445 km
• Source: Zagros Mountains, western Iran
• Mouth: Joins the Tigris as the Diyala River

Overview

The Sirwan River rises in the western Zagros of Iran and flows southwest into Iraq, where it is commonly known as the Diyala. Its basin cuts deep valleys through the mountains and forms a lifeline for many Kurdish towns and villages.

Historically, the Sirwan valley has been a corridor for trade and settlement, linking the highlands of Iranian Kurdistan with the plains of Mesopotamia.

Landscape and Culture

The river supports irrigated agriculture, orchards, and fisheries along its course. Many riverside communities trace their livelihoods and identity to the seasonal rhythms of the Sirwan.

Notes

Several dams, including Daryan, regulate the river in its upper reaches.