The Gediz River (, ) is the second-longest river in Anatolia flowing into the Aegean Sea. From its source of Mount Murat in Kütahya Province, it flows generally west for to the Gediz River Delta in the Gulf of ðzmir.
The ancient Greek name of the river was Hermos (á¼ÂÃÂüÿÃÂ), Latinized as Hermus.
The name of the river Gediz may be related to the Lydian proper name Cadys; Gediz is also the name of a town near the river's sources. The name "Gediz" may also be encountered as a male given name in Turkey.
The Gediz is one of the two candidates for the Hittite placename Seha River, the other being the Bakñrçay.
The Hermos separated Aeolia from Ionia, except for Ionic Phocaea, which was north of the Hermos. The valley of the Hermos was the heartland of the ancient Lydian Empire and overlooking the valley was the Lydian capital Sardis.
In Turkey's Aegean Region, Gediz River's length is second only to Büyük Menderes River whose flow is roughly parallel at a distance of slightly more than a hundred kilometers to the south.
Gediz River rises from Murat Mountain and à Âaphane Mountain in Kütahya Province and flows through Uà Âak, Manisa and ðzmir Provinces. It joins the sea in the northern section of the Gulf of ðzmir, close to the gulf's mouth, near the village of YenibaÃÂarasñ in Foça district, south of the center of the district.
The Gediz Basin lies between northern latitudes of 38ð04âÂÂâÂÂ39ð13â and southern longitudes of 26ð42âÂÂâÂÂ29ð45âÂÂ. It covers 2.2% of the total area of Turkey. Larger part of the alluvial plain called under the same name as the river (Gediz Plain) is within the area of Manisa Province and a smaller downstream section within ðzmir Province.
The Gediz Delta is important as a nature reserve and is home to rare bird species. However, the reserve suffers from water shortages due to heavy demands from irrigation projects, connected to the Demirköprü Dam.
High level of urbanization and industrialization along its basin have caused the Gediz River to suffer severe pollution, particularly by sand and gravel quarries and the discharge of effluents from the leather industry. These factors contributed to the river's formerly rich fish reserves to become a thing of the past in recent years.