Manbij Plain slopes down to amsl toward the east. In the western part of the drainage basin, flat grounds with fertile red-brown soils can be found, and this area is suitable for agriculture. Toward the east and along the Sajur, the plain is dissected by numerous wadis, making these parts of the area less suitable for human occupation and agriculture. The Manbij Plain experiences a continental climate. Average temperatures range from in January to in July. Annual average precipitation is , but ranges from a minimum of per year in dry years to per year in exceptionally wet years. Although much of the area is cultivated today, combined palaeobotanical, climate and vegetation research suggest that the basin would support a xeric woodland vegetation with open oak forest and Rosaceae (rose/plum family) in the absence of human activity. History Occupation of the Sajur river basin started as early as the Lower Palaeolithic period, as evidenced by Acheulean stone artefacts. Middle Palaeolithic artefacts have been found as well. Economy Both Turkey and Syria use water from the Sajur for irrigation purposes. Since the 19th century, occupation in and cultivation of the Sajur basin have steadily increased, especially in the western, more fertile part of the area. The introduction of motorized pumps has led to a considerable decrease of the groundwater table, with the effect that many wells have dried up. Turkey has built the Kayacık Dam on the Ayfinar Deresi, one of the two streams that join to form the Sajur. This high dam creates a reservoir with a surface area of . From this reservoir, an area of is irrigated. A dam with a planned reservoir capacity of is under construction on the Syrian part of the Sajour. The city of Aleppo disposes part of its wastewater into the Sajur drainage system. See also Tigris–Euphrates river system Notes References Rivers of Syria Rivers of Turkey Aleppo Governorate International rivers of Asia Landforms of Gaziantep Province Tributaries of the Euphrates River