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The Orontes River is a major river located in Western Asia that flows through the region. It is historically and geographically significant to the areas it passes through, serving as an important waterway for the surrounding communities.
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The Orontes (/ɔːˈrɒntiːz/; from Ancient Greek Ὀρόντης, Oróntēs) or Nahr al-ʿĀṣī, or simply Asi (Arabic: العاصي, romanized: al-ʿĀṣī, IPA: [alˈʕaːsˤiː]; Turkish: Asi) is a 571 kilometres (355 mi) long river in West Asia that begins in Lebanon, flowing northwards through Syria before entering the Mediterranean Sea near Samandağ in Hatay Province, Turkey.
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), and water distribution remains a controversial issue between the countries in the region. Among the most important cities on the river are Homs, Hama, Jisr al-Shughur, Apamea (one of ancient Syrias most prominent cities), and Antakya (the ancient Antioch, which was also known as "Antioch on the Orontes" and was the capital of Syria for 938 years from 301BCE-637CE).