Virtual reality to turn spotlight on water tourism in Yazd

TEHRAN - If the purpose of heritage museums is to build a bridge between the past and present, then virtual reality (VR) is undeniably one of the most innovative construction tools at their disposal.

Ancient qanat in central Iran brought back to life 

TEHRAN – A restoration project has been completed on the historical qanat of Shahneh in the central province of Yazd, a local official has announced. 

Ancient qanat in Tehran to be restored, revived

TEHRAN- The centuries-old Qanat of Behjat-Abad, which is stretched from the towering Alborz Mountains southward to central Tehran, is planned to be restored and revived in the near future, an official with the Tehran Municipality announced on Wednesday.

Ground broken on new development for UNESCO-tagged qanat

TEHRAN - Construction of a reserve reservoir for a UNESCO-registered qanat was officially begun on Thursday in Baghestan, a town in Ferdows county of Iran’s South Khorasan province.

Archaeological evidence may reshape Yazd history

TEHRAN – Recent archeological findings have shed new light on the history of Yazd, the UNESCO-registered oasis city in central Iran, proposing its antiquity may go down in time more than previously thought.

Craftswomen plan to revive ancient water systems near harsh desert

TEHRAN – An Iranian NGO, founded by a group of female Iranian crafters, has planned to financially support the revival of ancient qanats situated near the scorching Lut Desert in east-central Iran.

800-year-old qanat to turn into national museum

TEHRAN – The 800-year-old Bahaeddin qanat (underground aqueduct) in the central city of Ardakan is planned to be repurposed into a national museum.

UNESCO-registered qanat undergoes restoration

TEHRAN – Restoration work has begun on qanat of Ebrahim Abad, which is situated in Arak, central Iran. The monument is one of the country’s aqueducts registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage.

Qanats of Sa’dabad historical complex revived

TEHRAN – Four old qanats in the Sa’dabad Cultural-Historical Complex in northern Tehran that had dried up over time, have recently been revived.

Qanat, an ancient invention for water management

For thousands of years, qanat (ancient subterranean aqueduct) systems have supplied water to agricultural and permanent settlements in arid regions of Iran.

400-year-old cistern restored in Isfahan

TEHRAN - The historical Tudeshk cistern, a vast subterranean reservoir for storing water in Isfahan province, has been fully restored and is ready to be toured by visitors, researchers, and architecture enthusiasts.

Ancient aqueduct identified in western Iran

TEHRAN – An ancient hand-dug qanat, an old type of underground water-supply system developed and still used in arid regions, has recently been identified adjacent to an archeological hill in Lorestan province, western Iran.

Aqueduct heritage in west-central Iran ‘very complex and interesting’, senior archaeologist says

TEHRAN – The ruins of some 100 qanats (subterranean aqueducts), which are stretched beneath the Buin Zahra plain, west-central Iran, along with their associated cultural heritage are “very complex and interesting”, a senior Iranian archaeologist has said.

Archaeological survey identifies 205 relics, ancient sites in Kerman

TEHRAN – A total of 205 relics and ancient sites have been identified during an archaeological survey in Kuhbanan, the southeastern Kerman province, suggesting that the region has long been a hub for Tutia (vitriol) production and the main corridor for human migration into the eastern parts of the Asian continent.

‘World’s longest qanat’ under restoration in central Iran

TEHRAN – A restoration project has been commenced on sections of Zarch Qanat in central Iran, which had been harmed by recent flash floods. Widely known as the world’s longest subterranean aqueduct, the qanat is stretched some 80 km across Yazd province.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Qanat, a solution to water scarcity?

For many years, the country has been suffering from droughts and lack of water resources; wetlands, rivers, lakes and open drains have dried up gradually. While experts believe that the current water scarcity is due to poor water management policies, do qanats give us the right policy?

Ashtian’s handmade soap added to national heritage list

TEHRAN - The centuries-old art of soap making in Ashtian, a city in west-central Iran, has been registered on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Centuries-old water supply system discovered in Iran

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archaeologists has found remnants of a centuries-old network, which used to supply water to an underground “city” in central Iran.

Qanats offer clues to ancient way of life in Iran

TEHRAN – For thousands of years, qanat systems have supplied water to agricultural and permanent settlements in arid regions of Iran, tapping alluvial aquifers at the heads of valleys and conducting the water along underground tunnels by gravity, often over many kilometers.

Iran’s saffron farming system wins FAO world heritage status

TEHRAN – A traditional saffron cultivation system in Iran has won recognition from FAO as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).

Ancient qanat found in southern Iran

TEHRAN – Residents of Rostaq, a rural district in Iran’s southern Fars province, have discovered an ancient qanat, which is estimated to date from some 2,000 years ago.

Yazd to be first destination for water tourism in Iran

TEHRAN – Yazd will be the first destination for water tourism, an initiative that Iran Water House, a Tehran-based educational institution, aims to operate across Iran, ISNA reported on Saturday.

120,000 qanats documented in Iran

TEHRAN – Some 120,000 qanats - ancient subsurface water supply systems - have been documented so far across Iran, a cultural heritage official has said.