Kızılırmak (river)

Kızılırmak
Halys
River
Kızılırmak in Avanos
Country	Turkey
Tributaries
- left	Devrez River, Gök River
- right	Delice River
Cities	Sivas, Kırşehir, Kırıkkale
Source
- location	İmranlı, Sivas Province
- elevation	2,000 m (6,562 ft)
- coordinates	39°48′N 38°18′E / 39.800°N 38.300°E / 39.800; 38.300
Mouth	Black Sea
- location	Bafra, Samsun Province
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
- coordinates	41°44′04″N 35°57′23″E / 41.73444°N 35.95639°E / 41.73444; 35.95639Coordinates: 41°44′04″N 35°57′23″E / 41.73444°N 35.95639°E / 41.73444; 35.95639
Length	1,355 km (842 mi)
Map of the Kızılırmak watershed
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Kizilirmak Delta
Designated	April 15, 1998

The Kızılırmak (Turkish for "Red River"), also known as the Halys River (Ancient Greek: Ἅλυς), is the longest river entirely within Turkey. It is a source of hydroelectric power and is not used for navigation.

The Kızılırmak flows for a total of 1,355 kilometres (842 mi), rising in Eastern Anatolia around 39°48′N 38°18′E / 39.8°N 38.3°E / 39.8; 38.3 (Kızılırmak source), flowing first to the west and southwest until 38°42′N 34°48′E / 38.7°N 34.8°E / 38.7; 34.8, then forming a wide arch, the "Halys bend", flowing first to the west, then to the northwest, passing to the northeast of Lake Tuz, then to the north and northeast, where it is joined by its major tributary, the Delice River (also known by its Greek name Cappadox) at 40°28′N 34°08′E / 40.47°N 34.14°E / 40.47; 34.14, and after zigzagging to the northwest to the confluence with the Devrez River at 41°06′N 34°25′E / 41.10°N 34.42°E / 41.10; 34.42, and back to the northeast, joining the Gökırmak before finally flowing through its delta into the Black Sea at 41°43′N 35°57′E / 41.72°N 35.95°E / 41.72; 35.95 (Kızılırmak mouth). Dams on the river include the Boyabat, Altınkaya and Derbent.