Its course thus far has been nearly parallel with the coast of the Mediterranean, and has lain between two ranges of mountains, the more western of which has shut it out from the sea.
At Jisr Hadid the western mountains come to an end, and the Orontes, sweeping round their base, runs first west and then south-west down the broad valley of Antioch, in the midst of the most lovely scenery, to the coast, which it reaches a little above the 36th parallel, in long.

35 deg.
55'.

The course of the Orontes, exclusive of lesser windings, is about 200 miles.

It is a considerable stream almost from its source.

At Hamah, more than a hundred miles from its mouth, it is crossed by a bridge of thirteen arches.