Tree of Knowledge in Al-Qurnah

Al-Qurnah is a town in southern Iraq where the Tigris and Euphrates meet to form the Shatt al-Arab. At the riverbank, a tree is linked in local tradition to the biblical Garden of Eden. The river junction is a geographic fact; the Eden story is a local tradition, not a verified biblical location.

Where the rivers meet

The Tigris and Euphrates converge at Al-Qurnah, where the Shatt al-Arab begins its course south towards Basra and the Persian Gulf. The name Al-Qurnah is often explained as meaning a joint or connection in Arabic. (Al-Qurnah; Shatt al-Arab)

The tree and the Eden story

Local folklore links Al-Qurnah with the Garden of Eden and identifies a tree here as the biblical Tree of Knowledge. The tree once shown to visitors died, and replacement trees were planted. The site's significance comes from this tradition, not from the survival of an original biblical tree.

Visiting the confluence

The river junction is the clearest thing to look for. Watch the Tigris and Euphrates merge into the Shatt al-Arab, then consider how this landscape came to be linked with Eden. The geography is visible; the religious story belongs to local memory.

Al-Qurnah is about 74 kilometres northwest of Basra, according to the town's Wikipedia entry. Check current local conditions and transport before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

[
  {
    "id": "faq-1",
    "question": "Where is Al-Qurnah?",
    "answer": "Al-Qurnah is a town in southern Iraq, about 74 kilometres northwest of Basra."
  },
  {
    "id": "faq-2",
    "question": "Which rivers meet at Al-Qurnah?",
    "answer": "The Tigris and Euphrates meet at Al-Qurnah and form the Shatt al-Arab."
  },
  {
    "id": "faq-3",
    "question": "What is the Tree of Knowledge in Al-Qurnah?",
    "answer": "It is a tree associated in local folklore with the biblical Tree of Knowledge and the Garden of Eden."
  },
  {
    "id": "faq-4",
    "question": "Is Al-Qurnah a confirmed location of the Garden of Eden?",
    "answer": "No. The association is local tradition, not a verified biblical location."
  },
  {
    "id": "faq-5",
    "question": "Is the original tree still there?",
    "answer": "No. The tree once shown to visitors died, and replacement trees were planted."
  },
  {
    "id": "faq-6",
    "question": "How far is Al-Qurnah from Basra?",
    "answer": "It is about 74 kilometres northwest of Basra. Check current local conditions and transport before travelling."
  }
]

Sources

• Wikipedia, Al-Qurnah, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qurnah (accessed June 18, 2026).
• Wikipedia, Shatt al-Arab, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatt_al-Arab (accessed June 18, 2026).