UNESCO New World Heritage Site: 5 Ahwar Southern Iraq Revealing Facts

     Ahwar Southern Iraq Revealing Facts – Earlier this year the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization also known as UNESCO has just declared the new heritage sites of 2016. These includes that Ahwar in Southern Iraq also known as the marshlands in local people of the country.

     According to UNESCO, Iraq’s new heritage site is made up of seven site. Four wetland marsh areas and three more archaeological areas in Southern part of country. These archaeological site  has been preserved in Ur and Uruk and Tell Erido. Sources says that some of  these are form part of the Sumerian cities that was developed in southern Mesopotamia between the 4th and 3rd millennium BCE.

The Ahwar of Southern Iraq - UNESCO 2016 New Heritage Sites
The Ahwar of Southern Iraq – UNESCO 2016 New Heritage Sites

     Prime minister of Iraq immediately congratulated Iraqi people for these prestigious recognition given by UNESCO. Mr Haider al-Abadi himself thanked all people who contributed for this achievement of Iraq. He then added that despite the destruction and demolition of Iraqi heritage and antiques by barbaric terrorist gangs the culture of the country would always continue.

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     To continue we now gathered Ahwar Southern Iraq revealing facts. For people who are not so familiar with this new UNESCO world heritage site.  Hopefully you’ll find this travel facts informative. Enjoy!

Ahwar Southern Iraq Revealing Facts Includes:

1. The Ahwar of Southern Iraq is one of the world’s largest inland delta system with its extremely hot and dry environment. Ahwar also know as marshlands are said to be Biblical in nature as some of these places are inspirations of Garden of Eden.

2. According to UNESCO, the site is the refuge of biodiversity and the relic landscape of the Mesopotamian cities. The organization also said to protect these cultural and national heritage of Iraq. If ever emergency assistance for site is needed Iraqi government could easily establish plans to take care of their heritage site.

3. The marshlands sites in Iraq was once with the richest environment in the entire Middle East. It was filled with wild and migratory birds, tons of fishes and etc. Iraqi marshlands was also one of the center of Arab history for thousands of years.

4. According to the article posted in The Guardian, marshlands of Iraq once stretches 7,700 square miles around 20,000 square kilometers. Until it was ravaged and drained by dictator Saddam Hussein who ordered this movement in 1900s. Population living marshes dropped from estimated 500,000 in 1950’s census to just 20,000 as per report. Many expensive canals and dams were ordered built by the dictator but it was then demolished after he was disposed. Allowing water from the river flood back to the marshlands and settle once again the life of people who live near the sites.

UNESCO New World Heritage Site - 5 Ahwar Southern Iraq Revealing Facts
UNESCO New World Heritage Site – 5 Ahwar Southern Iraq Revealing Facts | Photo Credits: Owner

5. Since Iraq-born engineer Azzam Alwash returned to Iraq, he made this mission of restoring the Iraq including the wetland to their former glory. Alwash removed dykes and dams to re-flood the marshes and so far almost half of these has been restored. With this world preservation UNESCO given to Iraq’s Ahwar we can surely expect redevelopment and more of its changes as a heritage site.

Photo Credits: Owner

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