Water has always played a key role in the long history of IRAN. Iranians are credited for qanats and the invention of Persian wheel, two ancient irrigation systems which are well known in the world. According to hereto the Greek historian, Qanat digging technique was documented and was practiced in the achaemenids era (550_330 BC) 2500 years ago. Remains of reservoirs have been discovered along with water intakes, spilwaysand outlets and the sewage systems belonging to pre_achamenids and Assyrians (1500-600 BC).
The archaeological surveys suggest that Iranians enjoyed advanced culture and civilization some 7000 years ago. The civilization of in the western part of Iranian plateau flourished 5000 years ago and they invented cuneiform writing . Discoveries prove that Iranian were peaceful and ingenious people in third millennium BC who cultivated cultivated land and raised crops and livestock.
1-Khaju bridge & diversion dam, Isfahan province, Age 354 years
In general , there have been four methods of in irrigation in Iran .
These four methods are listed as cisterns or water reservoirs, channels, canals, weirs and dams. Conventional wells were drilled vertically by means of manual tools and equipment's and the water content of these wells was discharged for utilization by men or through the use of herbivorous animals . Ancient Iranian perceived the process by which artesian well originated knew how they could be brought under subjugation.
However full utilization of the aforementioned well was not accomplished in the past, Furthermore excess precipitation was stored in certain locations known as cistern or water reservoirs, in the form of covered structured ,filled with water ,can be observed in vicinity of salt desert , and hot arid plains in south of Iran which are utilized for provision of water demands of villages and caravans.
|The under ground water channels , the so called "Qanat" was by the large the most important method Of irrigation in many parts of Iran. |
In view of the scarcity of rivers in many regions of the country and With consideration that the number of perpetual rivers was highly scanty the ancient Iranian chivied an admirable innovation known as "QANAT" or "CAREEZ" approximately 3000 years ago.
This highly important and incomparable initiative was transferred from middle east later transferred From middle east to north Africa , Spain and Cecil for further exploitation. The records on the Iranian's "QANAT" in the achaemenian period can be found in the writings of Greek historian . Consequently , it can be asserted that this irrigation technique dates back to the prechaemenian period . There also exist historians records in Qanat in the parthians and sassanids.
Qanat (3000 year ancientness)
A symbol of Iranian Identity and National skill in Irrigation
Name : Fahraj Qanat (Subterranean Canal)
Length(km) : 20
Depth(m) : 50
Location: Yazd Province