Ancient Innovation of Iranian Irrigation System

From three thousand years ago, Iranian farmers living in arid and desert areas embarked on a new initiative to irrigate their fields. In this initiative, which is a masterpiece of Iranian architecture, farmers dug an qanat or kariz to draw water from boiling springs to dry and low-water areas under their cultivation. It was a solution that soon spread around the world. Out of 40,000 qanats that are still active in Iran, 11 unique qanats are registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Most of aqueducts are in the provinces of Khorasan Razavi, South Khorasan, Yazd, Kerman, Isfahan, East Azerbaijan and Semnan. And even there are old qanats in the rainy provinces, such as Gilan. In the following, we introduce these unique Iranian qanats.

The Definition of Qanat

Qanat is a Persian word from the root “kanat” consisting of two parts “kan” meaning digging and “at” the plural sign. Another name of Qanat is “Kariz”. There have been more than 27 terms to describe this ancient method of irrigation in Iran and other countries.

Qasbeh Gonabad 

Gonabad qanat has 350 meters depth, which contain the deepest mother well which date back to 2500 years ago. It is UNESCO World Heritage Site for its age and the high capacity of water. There are more than 470 wells along the route to prevent the wells from blocking. The pottery found along the qanat dates back to the Achaemenid period. It is the only one that has given life and prosperity to this Gonabad till now.

Iran Qanats in Yazd World History

The Zarch aqueduct is the longest aqueduct in the world. It is an ancient deep aqueduct in the city of Zarch, Yazd, which is more than 71 km long. And, its construction dates back to more than 1300 years ago. This qanat was dug at a depth of 23 meters and had a good discharge until 150 years ago. However, the several wells along the route of this qanat has drastically reduced its water level. It needs the global attention to revive once again.

Iran Qanats, Baladeh Ferdows

Baladeh aqueduct in the city of Ferdows, belongs to Sassanid period. However, a pottery found around it dates back to 200 years older than Sassanid. Baladeh puts 15 qanats and 4 springs together and forms a watery filed. It is the water source of villages like Baghistan and Islamieh, which rehabilitates 2.382 hectares of agricultural land and 1800 garden plots along its 35 km route.

Goharriz Qanat

The 750-year-old Goharriz belongs to the Safavid period and today is one of the most active Joopar qanats. This aqueduct with 129 wells, along its 3,750-meter route, irrigates about 330 hectares of land and gardens. It provides drinking water to the city and villages along the route. The water of this aqueduct is a suitable habitat for blind white fish.

Iran Qanats, Hassanabad Mehriz

This aqueduct belongs to the eighth century AD. Hassanabad Qanat is at a shallow depth and its unique feature is that no gypsum and salt layers formed along the route. For this reason, the water of this aqueduct with the best quality reaches its final destination. Nowadays, its water is mostly irrigates the gardens.

Mozdabad Qanat Water Management System

Mazdabad Qanat is the second oldest aqueduct which is 18 km long at a depth of 100 meters between Shahinshahr and Meimeh. The great depth of this aqueduct has led to the formation of unique features in it. Mazdabad is similar to underground rivers. It has a similar appearance to Alisadr Cave in Hamadan, due to calcareous crystallization and the formation of stalagmite and stalagmite fossils,

Explore Iran Desert Qanats System in Ancient Persia

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