Agriculture in Syria runoff most of the year. The river flows southeastward across the arid Syrian Plateau into Iraq, where it joins the Tigris River shortly before emptying into the Persian Gulf. In addition to Syria, both Turkey and Iraq use dams on the Euphrates for hydroelectric power, water control, storage, and irrigation. In the mid-1980s, about a half of the annual Euphrates River flow was used by these three countries. Syrians have long used the Euphrates for irrigation, but, because the major systems were destroyed centuries ago, they now make only limited use of the river's flow. In the mid-1980s, the Euphrates
Cordes (river) Cordes (river) Cordes () was a small stream of Mesopotamia which rose in the Mons Masius, and was a tributary of the Chaboras, itself a tributary of the Euphrates. The town of Dara was situated upon its banks. Justinian's engineers diverted the river towards the city by digging a canal. The river now flowed through the city, ensuring ample water supply. At the same time, by means of diverting its flow to an underground channel which exited to the north, Dara's garrison was able to deny water to a besieging enemy, a fact which saved the city on several occasions.