TheGhezel Ozan (Azerbaijani:Qızılözən (Red River),Persian:قزل اوزن /Qezel Owzan) (also spelledGhezel Ozen) is one of the longest rivers in Iran, originating from the Chehel Cheshmeh Mountains betweenSaqqez andDivandarreh inKurdistan Province flowing in northernIran.
It flows throughKurdistan Province,Zanjan Province,East Azerbaijan Province,Ardabil Province, andGilan Province.
It is one of two tributaries forming theSefid-Rud river, with theShahrood. The Sefīd-Rūd is a major river and tributary of theCaspian Sea. Its catchment area is about 48,600 km2 (18,800 sq mi).
The Ghezel Ozanheadwaters are in theZagros Mountains, in a region nearDivan Darreh inKurdistan Province. It runs northeastwards throughMiyaneh County inEast Azarbaijan and thenKhalkhal County inArdabil Province and thenZanjan County andTarom County inZanjan Province eastwards through theAlborz mountain range inGilan Province.
AtRudbar in the southwestern Alborz, the Ghezel Ozan joins theShah Rud−Shahrood river to form theSefīd-Rūd river (meaning White River inPersian). Then the Sefid-Rud flows northwards in Gilan Province, through the Alborz range to theCaspian Sea.
Sometimes the Ghezel Ozan and the Sefīd-Rūd are considered a single river, and the words "Ghezel Ozan" and "Sefid-Rud" are used synonymously for the entire river that flows from the Zagros Mountains in Kordestan Province to the Caspian Sea.[1]
| Lake Urmia basin | |
|---|---|
| Persian Gulf basin | |
| Oman sea basin | |
| Caspian basin | |
| Gavkhouni basin | |
| Namak Lake basin | |
| Hamun-e Jaz Murian basin | |
| Other | |
35°41′36″N46°46′28″E / 35.6934°N 46.7745°E /35.6934; 46.7745
