Water is one of the most essential ingredients of all. Without water, life on Earth would not be possible. Since ancient times, people have sought to ensure its availability even in the driest regions of the world.
One of the most significant and oldest water supply systems is the qanat – ingenious underground channels typical primarily of Iran.
Qanat: Iranian Underground Water Channels
What Is a Qanat?
A qanat (قنات) is a traditional system of underground water channels that transport groundwater from mountainous areas or underground reservoirs to lower-lying locations. Qanats use gravity and do not require pumps or other mechanical devices. They operate purely based on the physical principle of terrain slope. A qanat consists of a main horizontal shaft connected to a series of vertical shafts used for ventilation, maintenance, and sediment removal.
The origin of qanats likely dates back more than 2,500 years. The oldest Iranian qanats come from the Achaemenid Empire period (550–330 BCE), although some archaeological findings suggest their beginnings may be even older. In Iran, there are tens of thousands of qanats that still supply water to cities, villages, fields, and orchards today.
Qanats in the City of Yazd
One of the most important centers for qanats in Iran is the historic desert city of Yazd. Yazd is located in central Iran, in the middle of a harsh, arid desert. In this region, access to water is a matter of survival, which is why qanats here have reached perfection.
In Yazd, hundreds of active qanats can be found. Yazd’s qanats are renowned for their length, precision, and sophisticated technical solutions. In 2016, Yazd’s historic center, including its qanats, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Qanats in Yazd are easy to visit, and you can even walk through the water still flowing through the channels.
Construction and Functioning of Qanats
A typical qanat consists of several parts:
- Mother well: a deep vertical shaft located in a mountainous or elevated area where access to groundwater is available. Here, water naturally seeps into the system.
- Horizontal tunnel: a long underground tunnel with a gentle slope that transports water from the mother well to the consumption point. Tunnel lengths can range from several kilometers to tens of kilometers.
- Vertical shafts: primarily used for qanat maintenance, sediment removal, ventilation, and water flow control. These shafts are spaced at regular intervals along the entire qanat length.
- Exit point: the location where water emerges on the surface, often in the form of above-ground canals or irrigation fields.
Building a qanat requires thorough knowledge of geology, hydrology, and engineering. In Iran, this craft was traditionally practiced by specialized workers known as “moghanni” (مقنی), who passed their knowledge and experience down through generations.
Qanats in Other Parts of Iran
Although Yazd is one of the most significant cities utilizing qanats, similar systems can be found in other Iranian cities such as Kashan, Kerman, Esfahan, or Tabriz. The entire country of Iran is interwoven with a dense network of these water channels, with a total length reaching tens of thousands of kilometers.
Similar underground channels also appear in other dry regions of the world. For example, they are known as “karez” in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and western China. In the Maghreb countries (such as Morocco or Algeria), similar systems are called “foggara.” In southern Spain, in Andalusia, they are known as “galerías.” The principle of operation is very similar in all cases.
If you’re looking to burn off some energy after your culinary adventures in Yazd, try exploring the local qanats.
It’s worth it!
