is concerned are the Nile, the Jordan, the Litani, the Orontes, the Euphrates, and the Shatt al-Arab. "All are permanent watercourses in semi-desert to desert land, and as such they assume importance far out of proportion to their modest discharges. For example, the Nile is the longest river in the world, its drainage area is the fourth largest in the world, but its total discharge is less than at least those of 50 other rivers in the world (e.g. the Susquehanna). Each of the six rivers acquires its runoff from the major concentrations of users; in every case but that of the Litani, water is used outside present and historic boundaries of countries in which that discharge is generated by rainfall" (Naff and Matson, 1984).
Given the scarcity of water outside the proximity of these river systems, but considering the possibility of technological works (such as canals and dams), one needs to examine the nature of the soils. "The most cha
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