The Euphrates is one of the two main rivers that flow through the Middle East region also known as Mesopotamia. It rises in the mountains of Turkey and flows through Syria and Iraq before finally emptying into the Persian Gulf. The river stretches for about 2,800 kilometers.

The Euphrates played a crucial role in the history of human civilization. It was a central part of the Fertile Crescent, a region of fertile soil that made farming and settlement possible. The banks of the Euphrates were home to ancient cultures such as the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians. These cultures used the river for irrigation, trade, and transportation, which helped develop advanced farming and irrigation techniques.

Today, the Euphrates continues to be of great importance to the region. It supplies water to agriculture, cities and industries. Also, power generation plants operate along the river to generate energy. However, control of the Euphrates' water resources has also fueled political tensions among riparian states, particularly Turkey, Syria and Iraq.