The impact of natural determinants in activating the use of river transport and the development of future prospects in Iraq

Abstract

Natural controllers have a clear effect in determining the course of transportation traffic within one region or within other neighboring regions.Natural controllers or determinants , exemplified by spatial characteristics have gained supreme importance in geographical research in general , and transportation geography in particular. These determinants are reflections of the geographical location in all its dimensions, thus their persistence and relative stability .This disparity enables us to study the relation between the river course ( of river transportation under study) and the natural determinants , single or combined , and the latter's effect in determining the failure or success of this type of transportation . This sector of transportation is included within the economic , service and productive projects. Thus , the study is divided as follows:1-Natural controllers or determinants , represented by the phenomena that determine the validity of the river for navigation .2-The topography of the river course and its relation to river transportation.3-Studying the hindrance imposed by natural determinants on river navigation.4-The potentials of using the river Tigris to solve the transportation problem in Baghdad.