Kura

Kura, river, in Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, the longest river of the Transcaucasia Region. Also known as the Kür, it is about 1,530 km (950 mi) long with the lower 480 km (300 mi) being navigable. The river rises as the Kuruçay in the mountains of north-eastern Turkey. It flows north-east into Georgia to a point near Gori, where it arcs and turns south-east. At Zemo-Avchala, near T'bilisi, is a hydroelectric station. Continuing south-east past Rustavi, the river enters Azerbaijan. A dam and hydroelectric plant have been built at Mingäçevir (Mingechaur); the dam forms the Mingäçevir Reservoir. At Sabirabad, the Kura receives the Aras (Araks), its chief tributary. The Kura enters the Caspian Sea south of Baku.