Zarch aqueduct

Water is one of the main elements of human life, but when we talk about living in desert cities, it becomes an important concern. Aqueduct has been our ancestors solution to water issue. A construction  or waterway  that is dug underground, so that water flows through it to reach the surface of the earth.The aqueduct makes the spirit of life flow in the desert cities.  and used to direct water and manage it for agriculture and other purposes. However, the aqueduct technology is a gift of philanthropic ancient Iranians to mankind. It is originated approximately 3000 years ago in Iran .

History of Zarch Aqueduct

This aqueduct, the Zarch aqueduct of Yazd, is one of the most remarkable aqueducts of Iran, which is registered in the list of national monuments of the country, and the news indicates that one of the reasons for the national registration of Yazd city is the location of this aqueduct. 
The available historical documents show that the construction of this aqueduct took several years and several generations were active in its construction and excavation with very little labor and resources. With a length of 90 km, Zarch Garden Aqueduct was announced by UNESCO as the longest aqueduct in the world in 2016, and every year it calls numerous Iranian and foreign tourists to the city of Yazd to watch it. The construction of the Zarch aqueduct in Yazd dates back to the Sassanid and Zoroastrian centuries, and this age has made it one of the most popular tourist attractions in Yazd. According to various evidences and studies, the construction of the Zarach aqueduct in Iran dates back to 3000 years ago during the Sassanid and Zoroastrian eras. The age of this aqueduct has turned it into one of the tourist attractions of Yazd. 
 

Features of Zarch Aqueduct

The architecture and construction of this aqueduct is such that watching it amazes the passengers .Compared to other aqueducts, Zarch aqueduct has special and unique features, the presence of skylights, stairs, and most importantly, its square section makes it very distinctive and special, which is the only known aqueduct with a square surface.

Importance of Zarch aqueduct

The importance of this aqueduct has been to such an extent that Yazd Grand Mosque was built in the Bagh Zarch aqueduct area after the arrival of Islam in Iran. The construction of this building on the aqueduct has created a very large water reservoir beneath the mosque and has provided the ground for the construction of a drinking fountain for ablution inside the mosque for the worshipers.The bars of the Zarach aqueduct of Yazd can still be seen in the Yazd Grand Mosque, and the ablution stand can still be used by the public.

Challenges ahead in Zarch aqueduct

If I want to talk about the amount of water supplied by the Zarch Yazd aqueduct, I must say that in the past years, the water supply of the aqueduct was more than 150 liters per second; This amount of water is equal to the average per capita water consumption of a person per day, which includes the water needed by a person for drinking, bathing, washing dishes,etc. But now there is no news of this amount of watering! The water supply of the aqueduct is currently about 25 liters per second; The development of the city of Yazd, building construction in the areas related to the aqueduct and the indiscriminate digging of various wells within the aqueduct have made the Bagh Zarch aqueduct no longer full of water as in the past, but it is still used for agricultural and irrigation purposes.

These changes, in addition to water scarcity, have caused other problems in the way of Zarach Aqueduct, among these problems, we can point out the placement of sewer pipes in the corridor of the aqueduct! The problem of the Zarach aqueduct of Yazd with the city's sewage needs serious solutions to prevent the destruction of one of the most important sights of Yazd. This aqueduct has buried under the city of Yazd, and the parts that do not have sewage have created many difficulties for the Zarach aqueduct and the maintenance of this historical work. 

Global registration in Zarch aqueduct

Although the first aqueducts were built in northwest Iran and near the current border, one of the longest and oldest aqueducts in the world can be found in the desert city of Yazd, which is also known as the city of aqueducts. This aqueduct, which is called Zarch, was registered as the longest aqueduct of Iran in the list of world monuments at the 40th UNESCO World Heritage Summit held in June 2016. This ancient Iranian heritage, whose construction method was passed down from one generation to another, is an outstanding example that introduces the intelligent architecture or technology of ancient Iranians to the world. To visit  this tourist attraction,Zarch aqueduct, you have to travel to desert city ,yazd ,in Iran and go through the winding alleys .A journey in time to see the glory of the Zarch aqueduct in  Iran. We invite you to visit Zarch aqueduct ،the masterpiece  of water engineering by traveling to Iran.