Orontes River

Orontes Nahr al-ʿĀṣī
The Norias of Hama along the Orontes in Syria
Native name	العاصي (Arabic) Asi (Turkish)
Location
Country	Lebanon, Syria, Turkey
Cities	Homs, Hama, Jisr al-Shughur, Antakya
Physical characteristics
Source	Labweh
• location	Beqaa Valley, Lebanon
• coordinates	34°11′49″N 36°21′9″E / 34.19694°N 36.35250°E / 34.19694; 36.35250
• elevation	910 m (2,990 ft)
Mouth	Samandağ
• location	Hatay Province, Turkey
• coordinates	36°2′43″N 35°57′49″E / 36.04528°N 35.96361°E / 36.04528; 35.96361
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	571 km (355 mi)
Basin size	24,660[1] km2 (9,520 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	67 m3/s (2,400 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• right	Afrin River, Karasu

The Orontes (/ɔːˈrɒntiːz/; from Ancient Greek Ὀρόντης, Oróntēs) or Nahr al-ʿĀṣī, or simply Asi (Arabic: العاصي, romanized: al-‘Āṣī, IPA: [alˈʕaːsˤiː]; Turkish: Asi) is a 571 kilometres (355 mi) long river in Western Asia that begins in Lebanon, flowing northwards through Syria before entering the Mediterranean Sea near Samandağ in Hatay Province, Turkey.^[1]

As the chief river of the northern Levant, the Orontes has been the site of many major battles including the Battle of Kadesh (13th century BCE). Among the most important cities on the river are Homs, Hama, Jisr al-Shughur, and Antakya (the ancient Antioch, which was also known as "Antioch on the Orontes").