Chaldaici Lacus

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography

CHALDAICI LACUS(Plin. Nat. 6.23, 27; τὰ ἕλη τὰ κατὰ Χαλδαίους, Strab. 16. p. 767), a wide extent of marsh land near the junction of the Euphrates and Tigris. It is not clear from the descriptions of ancient authors what extent they gave these marshes. According to Onesicritus (Strab. 15. p. 29) the Euphrates flowed into the Chaldaean Sea; according to Pliny (Plin. Nat. 6.27) it was the Tigris which mostly contributed to form these stagnant waters. It is clear, however, that Pliny's view on the subject was very indistinct, for he says previously (6.23) that they comprehended the lake which the Eulaeus and Tigris make near Charax. At the present time nearly all the land above and below the junction of the Tigris and Euphrates is for great part of the year an unhealthy swamp.
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