The river is 560 kilometres (350 mi) long and flows southwest from its headwaters in the Tahtalı-Mountains (in Sivas and Kayseri provinces) in the Anti-Taurus Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea via a broad delta.

Its main tributaries are Zamantı and Göksu, which unite in Aladağ, Adana to form the Seyhan River.

It is noted by numerous ancient authors including Livy,[3] Xenophon,[4] Procopius,[5] Strabo,[6] Ptolemy,[7] Appian,[8] Pliny the Elder,[9] and Eustathius of Thessalonica who erroneously calls it Sinarus.

Ancient city of Augusta was also situated on the river, corresponding today to the east side of the Çatalan reservoir.

[1] The major Seyhan Dam upstream of Adana serves for irrigation, hydroelectric power, and flood control.