Vazvan Kariz | ancient aqueduct | 3000 years world heritage site by UNESCO!

Kariz (Qanat or Roman Aqueduct) is an old knowledge that has been used in more than 35 countries. Kariz, previously recognized as a water management technology, involves horizontal subsurface galleries and vertical monitoring shafts, which works based on natural gravity force. This paper reviews various geoengineering and environmental impacts studies that have been carried out on Kariz networks during recent decades. Other emerging impacts of Kariz systems as an environmentally-friendly technology, its impacts on tourism attraction, land subsidence, and water management have been explored here. Due to modern lifestyle and demand for clean water as a result of population growth, especially in semi-arid or arid climates, this review study aims to explore the important role of Kariz system as a sustainable way of underground water management! 

The Vazvan Kariz or ancient aqueduct is situated in the city of  Vazvan in the Mime district of the Iranian province of Isfahan. This aqueduct is also one of the Iranian aqueducts that has been designated a world heritage site, by UNESCO.

The "Vazvan" Kariz is the only one with an underground dam's full architectural design, including seven valves. Dams are the finest way to store water in arid areas. Unquestionably, the Vazvan Kariz underground's dam,  is one of Iran's aqueducts'/Karizeses' wonders.

There are two underground water ovens (locally called Kar or Koreh) at a point of the Vazvan aqueduct that is above the dam of the aqueduct, and after closing the water, these cracks, forty liters of water per second, the water stored behind the dam for 120 days is directed to the underground reservoirs, and after opening the valves installed in the dam, the stored water gradually flows back into the aqueduct. This is a point that can be mentioned about the Vazvan aqueduct The aqueduct channels behind the dam have a capacity of 3200 = 4 x 800 cubic meters and are 800 meters long, one meter broad, and four meters high.

Moreover, the water that is stored behind the dam is 414,720 cubic meters of water according to the equation, which is more than the capacity of the canals of the aqueduct, and the excess of 411,520 cubic meters of the capacity of the channels is stored in the underground reservoirs by the aforementioned water heaters and by opening the dam valves. , gradually enters the consumption cycle.

Geologically speaking, The Kariz is situated in a sedimentary-stone layer that has split into two layers over the course of many years as a result of the region's declining water level, one of which is 35 km long and 18.40 meters deep, as indicated by the appearance of an aqueduct, and whose depth is visible in the mother of the current well. In the mountain stone layer, the lower floor of the aqueduct is excavated from the water's surface to a height of 2 meters and 10 centimeters. The rough estimation shows that this Kariz was constructed about 3000 years ago, and the only one in the entire Isfahan region to store subsurface water in a subsurface dam!

From water management side, Based on research, this Kariz has been implemented in a very fascinating system that manages water between the first of December and the 25th/30th of April of the following year. This Kariz was registered as a UNESCO in 2016, Istanbul, considering its cultural, archaeological and technological point of views.

Zarch Kariz | Longest Underground Ancient Water Management System | UNESCO Heritage Site #Kariz

Kariz (Qanat or Roman Aqueduct) is an old knowledge that has been used in more than 35 countries. Kariz, previously recognized as a water management technology, involves horizontal subsurface galleries and vertical monitoring shafts, which works based on natural gravity force. This paper reviews various geoengineering and environmental impacts studies that have been carried out on Kariz networks during recent decades. 

Other emerging impacts of Kariz systems as an environmentally-friendly technology, its impacts on tourism attraction, land subsidence, and water management have been explored here. Due to modern lifestyle and demand for clean water as a result of population growth, especially in semi-arid or arid climates, this review study aims to explore the important role of Kariz system as a sustainable way of underground water management! 

Zarch Kariz | Longest Underground Ancient Water Management System | UNESCO Heritage Site.

An Ancient Invention for Water Management in Desert Zārch is a plain Kariz with a gallery length of 80 km, its mother well is 90 m deep and has more than a thousand well shafts. It is still functional despite the sharp decline in the aquifer’s water levels. According to the existing documents, this Kariz dates back to preIslamic Era. History books too, indicate that this Kariz had been running across Yazd city about 700 years ago and people used its water for drinking and sanitation purposes through pāyābs which are a kind of access corridors. The starting point of this Kariz is in a village of Fahraj located in the north east of Yazd. The Kariz runs at the depth of 30-40 m beneath the city of Yazd. Then it reaches Zārch, where the water is used for irrigation in lower lands of the city of Yazd. The history of Zārch Kariz can be studied in terms of the formation of Zārch city, the age of the hydraulic structures built over it and in terms of existing historical documents. The history of Zārch city not only can be found in history books, but also myths, fables and epic stories mention it frequently, all of which are indicative of its long history. Now if we consider this Kariz as the factor behind the formation of this city, it is as old as the city itself. The study of the history of Kariz of Zārch shows that it has been frequently mentioned in various references. A sample of this references is a history book written by Ja’fari in the 1500 AD. This historian writes: “KAriz of Zārch enjoys two branches, one is outside the city and the other flows into the city. It is one of the oldest Kariz. During the invasion of the enemy forces, when they surrounded the city and blocked the water resources, it was the only water resource for the residents. To access water, people have to climb down 70 steps. Although it tastes a little bit salty, when it is cold it tastes fresh”. The hydraulic structures built over or close to this Kariz are another proof for its long history. Based on the results of studies conducted, some of the well shafts date back to pre-Islamic Era. The sections of these well shafts are rectangular in the bottom. Experts maintain that such well shapes were mostly common during Zoroastrian period, and in local dialect such well shafts are known as “Gabri” (Zoroastrian) wells. In addition to Kariz itself, some of the pāyābs in this area are very old and their names have been mentioned in history books. The book entitled The New History of Yazd holds that the pāyāb of Masjed-e Jāmé Yazd has been constructed during Alaud-Daulla reign in 1480 AD. The archaeological researches conducted about Kariz of Zārch attribute it Archimedean Era. The bricks of 40×40×10 cm thickness obtained from the remains of Zārch castle belong to Archimedean Era. Some ceramic pieces belonging to Sassanid Period have also been found in the upper parts of Kariz of Zārch. If we place the records for the formation of Zārch city beside other historical references, we can conclude that the age of this Kariz most likely goes back to pre-Islamic Era. Needless to say that this Kariz has been fully operational during 1200-1300 AD supplying potable water for the people of Yazd, meanwhile the residents of Zārch used its water for irrigation, sanitation and consumption purposes. Therefore, this Kariz is among the oldest Karizes. On the other hand, this Kariz enjoys numerous pāyābs, some of which are very old. The New History of Yazd, as a sample of numerous history books says that Alaud-Daulla ruler of Yazd had a Masjed-e Jāmé built in Yazd and beside it a pāyāb to access the water of Kariz. “And Alaud-Daulla constructed a mosque where Arsalān Khātun had constructed the minaret and beside the minaret built a dome, then he joined a branch of Zārch to the back side of the masque. Read more: https://surfiran.com/zarch-qanat-3000-years-old-water-management-system/#ixzz7cDLMbu5Z

To read more:(

1) A project on Environmental and Engineering aspects of Kariz & Roman Aqueducts.

(2) Scientific paper which reviews Kariz/Aqueducts 

#Kariz #qanat #aqueduct #ancientAqueduct #RomanAqueduct #aqueduct #iran #water

Kariz Technology: Ebrahim Abad, UNESCO Heritage site!

Kariz (Qanat or Roman Aqueduct) is an old knowledge that has been used in more than 35 countries. Kariz, previously recognized as a water management technology, involves horizontal subsurface galleries and vertical monitoring shafts, which works based on natural gravity force. This paper reviews various geoengineering and environmental impacts studies that have been carried out on Kariz networks during recent decades. 

Other emerging impacts of Kariz systems as an environmentally-friendly technology, its impacts on tourism attraction, land subsidence, and water management have been explored here. Due to modern lifestyle and demand for clean water as a result of population growth, especially in semi-arid or arid climates, this review study aims to explore the important role of Kariz system as a sustainable way of underground water management. 

Ebrahim Abad Kariz is located in Ebrahim Abad village in Moshk Abad, Arak, Markazi province which registered on Iran UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the name of The Persian Karizes.

It is the first historical and cultural heritage of Markazi province that has been registered in UNESCO. Ebrahim Abad Kariz has generated from Haftad Gholleh Mountains (Seventy Peaks) like a long east west series and continues to inside Ebrahim Abad. It had been formed into Marni and Shulati tissues and reach its end with a gentle slope. The first KAriz well that its mother well had been recognized was in an area known as Sareza behind the cemetery in Haftad Golleh zone. 

Ebrahim Abad Kariz has the main strain and 2 sub-strands that are locally called Rona and Qoshd. The main strain has 311 branches and Rona and Qoshd have 15 and 22 wells respectively. In distance of 800m, a strain called Rona joins to the main strain. Rona, also called Damaghe Ranha, generates from a small mountain at the beginning of Chekab in Haftad Golleh area, which is called Damaghe Khuni Mountain. Residents says that this strain has cool water that is joined to Ebrahim Abad Kariz. In general, the total well bars of this strain do not exceed 15 wells.

In total, Ebrahim Abad Kariz produces the water for approximately 100 hectares of Ebrahim Abad villages periodically. Still, in the present day, this Kariz was built with native Iranian indigenous knowledge, plays an important role in supplying the water needed for farmers' lands and even residents drinking. It continues its survival as a valuable historical element. The 11 Km extension of this Kariz from the mother well to the formation of a rural settlement has led to the formation of some villages with some water-dependent elements such as water storage, baths and a unique water system which is representative of Iranian ancestors' water management and agriculture engineering and also their futurism.

To read more:

(1) A project on Environmental and Engineering aspects of Kariz & Roman Aqueducts.

(2) Scientific paper which reviews Kariz/Aqueducts