Murat River

The Murat River (Turkish: Murat Nehri) or Eastern Euphrates is the major source of the Euphrates. It was also called Arsanias (Armenian: Արածանի) in antiquity. The river originates near Mount Ararat north of Lake Van, in eastern Turkey, and flows westward for 722 km (449 mi) through mountainous area. Before construction of the Keban Dam, the Murat River joined the Karasu 10 km (6.2 mi) north the dam site and 13 km (8.1 mi) north the town of Keban. Turkey's once largest dam, the Keban Dam, was completed in 1974 and is designed to provide electrical power.