DOCSLIB.ORG

Water It Is the World's Most Valuable Resource

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Water It Is the World's Most Valuable Resource Water Flow Conflicts in the Tigris and Euphrates River Basin 1 Stephanie Shewey 1 http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/07/13/world/20090713EUPHRATES_index.html?scp=3&sq=euphrates&st=cse 1 Water it is the World’s most valuable resource. It makes up more than 75 percent of the World’s surface area and is a part of every living organism. The human body is even made up of 70 percent of water. Water is a crucial resource and unfortunately our World’s water has been and still is neglected. Pollution, evaporation, and salinity increases are finally starting to take a toll on people and the environment. Water now under such stresses is finally starting to make people realize that this crucial resource must be taken seriously. In the Middle East water is becoming increasingly scarce. In this arid region, water is causing an increase in political hostilities. Key rivers such as the Tigris and Euphrates are internationally recognized for environmental problems. Major disruptions such as high salinity concentrations, pollution and the disappearance of major waterways are impacting the everyday lives of people in the Middle East. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers were home to great ancient civilizations and traced out the boundaries for the countries in the Middle East. “Few, if any, rivers exhibit such historic affinities and associations as the Euphrates and Tigris” (Trondalen 160). Throughout the past millennia, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers have been home to the rise and fall of great civilizations such as the Sumerians and Babylonians. They have major roles in the Bible and they even played a dominate role in the spread of Islam. Disputes over these rivers date back as far as 6,000 years. Regrettably due to current military and political conflicts such as the Iraq-Iranian War, US coalitions, and UN intervention water scarcity has been slid under the radar. Location and Description The Tigris and Euphrates rivers flow through a dry region between 45 degrees North and 25 degrees North latitude. This area is commonly referred to as the Middle East. Both rivers originate in the highlands of Turkey and have different flowing patterns. The Tigris is 1,150 miles long and begins in the 2 Taurus Mountains at the Dicle River of the Kurdistan region of eastern Turkey. The Tigris then flows southeastward along the Syrian-Turkish border and enters Iraq. As it enters Iraq it is fed from several main tributaries. The first is the Greater Zab which originates in Turkey and enters the Tigris River in Mosul, Iraq. The second contributor is the Little Zab which originates in the Zagros Mountains in Iran and flows down meeting the Tigris in Fatha. The Diyala and Karkheh rivers both originate in Iran and meet the Tigris in Baghdad just before the Shatt al Arab. Most of these tributaries are fed from the melting of snowcaps accumulated in Turkey during the winter months. Even though shorter than the Euphrates the Tigris has a larger water volume input making it very prone to flooding. Tigris and Euphrates River Basin2 2 http://maps.unomaha.edu/peterson/funda/MapLinks/SWAsia/40.gif 3 The Euphrates River is 1,585 miles long and begins on the Anatolian Plateau in eastern Turkey and flows southward through Syria and Iraq. The chief tributaries are the Karasu, Murat, Munzur, and Peril which all originate in Turkey. The only large tributary outside of Turkey is Khabur which joins the Euphrates in Syria. These main tributaries are fed by underground springs south of the border between Turkey and Syria. Having so few tributaries in the distance that it travels makes it very problematic for pollution. The Euphrates River also does not carry as much water mass as the Tigris which makes it much harder to navigate. Only in a few areas can you navigate by small boat. In between the Tigris and Euphrates is an area called Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia which literally means “between the rivers” flourishes with agriculture and diverse cultures. One major distinct culture is the Marsh Arabs; a culture group that has been declining in population this past century. The Euphrates and Tigris Rivers join together approximately northwest of Basra, Iraq where the Shatt al Arab is formed and continues until it empties into the Persian Gulf. The southern end of the Shatt al Arab is the border between Iraq and Iran. During different seasons the width of the Shatt al Arab can vary from 232 meters to 800 meters. Turkey, Syria, and Iraq’s use of the Rivers The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are essential resources for economic activities in all three countries. From farming to housework these rivers help supply water to the working force. In Turkey one of the main objectives is to use the rivers for hydroelectric power. A new project called GAP, a Turkish acronym for Southern Anatolian Project, was started in the 1960s. This $30 billion project was first introduced to provide irrigation and electricity to poverty-stricken areas. This project will construct 22 new dams and 19 new hydroelectric power plants on the Euphrates River alone. This will in turn boost the economy in this region. This land which has never been intensely irrigation before will not 4 have the opportunity to use intense irrigation and agriculture techniques. With GAP, Turkey is in hopes of generating 27 GWh/ year (Gigawatt an hour/ year) and increasing land salinity by 50 percent. By generating 27 GWh/year Turkey will generate over double of what it is generating now. Another reason for GAP is to assist areas where the Kurdish separatists movement PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) resides. Supporting the southeast region financially, Turkey feels that is will help alleviate some of the pressures of the PKK. In hopes to cause turn, they hope to cause tension and political instability to decrease. GAP has cause antagonistic relations between all three countries and will be discussed more in the latter of this thesis. GAP: Southern Anatolia Project3 Syria prior to the 1950s had little use of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. After economic problems, Syria finally realized the full potential of the rivers. Today when statistically looking at Syria, 80-90 percent of their surface water comes from these rivers. “By expanding agriculture in the Euphrates basin it will help Syria reduce its dependence on imported food as well as promote agro- 3 http://www.kurdishherald.com/issue/005/images/article03-d.jpg 5 related manufacturing industries such as cotton textiles, edible oils, vegetable and fruit processing, and milk processing.4” The construction of dams on the Euphrates as well as its main tributary, Khabour, helps supply water for irrigation. Unfortunately with many efforts to increase irrigation, irrigated lands have been abandoned due to water logging and salinization. The largest dam in Syria built on the Euphrates is the Tabqa Dam. This dam not is not only important for irrigation but for energy production. In the 70s, the Tabqa Dam provided over 60 percent of Syria’s electricity. Now due to low water levels, this form of electricity is unreliable. Syria is also suffering from a large increasing urban population. This makes Syria in desperate need of a more reliable water source. The Euphrates is polluted with chemicals from agriculture, industry, and sewage making it an unreliable source of drinking water. The infrastructure and treatment plants are also a major problem when it comes to finding reliable drinking water. The infrastructure is old and due to old pipes and cracks Syria must rationalize its drinking water in large cities such as Damascus and Aleppo. Damascus, Syria’s capital frequently goes without water at night due to old water pipes. 35 percent has been estimated to be lost somewhere along these pipelines due to cracks and leaks alone. Reliable drinking water is increasingly becoming one of Syria’s top priorities. Ancient cultures, such as Sumerians and Babylonians who lived in now day Iraq, used these rivers extensively. Since Iraq is the most arid of the three countries they tend to find most of their water from these two rivers. Almost 98 percent of their total surface water comes from the Tigris and Euphrates. Due to fluctuations in water flow from seasonal and controlled factors, water storage was and still is one of Iraq’s main priorities. Before water shortages, Mesopotamian civilizations thrived with well irrigated and flood controlled structures. The first flood controlled structures were built on the Habbaniya and Abu Dibbis Lakes. In 1911 construction of the Hindiya Barrage on the Euphrates began. 4 http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA296559&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf 6 This and other barrages help collect water for irrigation. 90 percent of the water collected is used for irrigation in Iraq. During past conflicts such as the Gulf War, Iraq suffers from damages on these dams and barrages which helped protect their water supply. Some projects were stopped completely due to security reasons and the inability to collect funds to start back up. 80 percent of all planned projects have been halted since the start of the Gulf War. Since headwaters are found outside of Iraq, Iraq is at the mercy of the water conditions that exists in Syria and Turkey. “Since Iraq is located furthest downstream on the Euphrates and Tigris, all river developments undertaken in Turkey and Syria may have an impact on the water flowing into Iraq” (Trondalen 182). This makes Iraq very vulnerable to any changes these two countries make on the rivers. Iraq has many more complex problems than Turkey and Syria. Iraq is very dry and flat making it very prone to evaporation.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • World's Major Rivers
    WWWWWWoorrlldd’’ss mmaajjoorr rriivveerrss AAnn IInnttrroodduuccttiioonn ttoo iinntteerrnnaattiioonnaall wwwwwwaatteerr llaawwwwww wwwwwwiitthh ccaassee ssttuuddiieess THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK WWWWWWoorrlldd’’ss mmaajjoorr rriivveerrss An introduction to international water law with case studies Colorado River Commission of Nevada 555 E. Washington Avenue, Suite 3100 Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 Phone: (702) 486-2670 Website: http://crc.nv.gov November 2008 Jacob (Jay) D. Bingham, Chairman Ace I. Robinson, Vice Chairman Andrea Anderson, Commissioner Marybel Batjer, Commissioner Chip Maxfield, Commissioner George F. Ogilvie III, Commissioner Lois Tarkanian, Commissioner George M. Caan, Executive Director Primary Author: Daniel Seligman, Attorney at Law Columbia Research Corp. P.O. Box 99249 Seattle, Washington 98139 (206) 285-1185 Project Editors: McClain Peterson, Project Manager Manager, Natural Resource Division Colorado River Commission of Nevada Sara Price Special Counsel-Consultant Colorado River Commission of Nevada Esther Valle Natural Resource Analyst Colorado River Commission of Nevada Nicole Everett Natural Resource Analyst Colorado River Commission of Nevada THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK World’s Major Rivers ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Daniel Seligman at the Columbia Research Corp. wishes to thank Jacqueline Pruner, attorney at law in Seattle, for her contribution to the section on water law in Canada and her valuable editing assistance throughout the entire document. The staff at the Murray-Darling Basin Commission and Goulburn-Murray Water in Australia provided important information about the Murray-Darling River system, patiently answered the author’s questions, and reviewed the draft text on water trading. Staff at the International Joint Commission in Washington, D.C., and the Prairie Provinces Water Board in Regina, Canada, also offered helpful comments on an earlier draft.
    [Show full text]
  • 192-210, 2011 Issn 1816-9112
    192 Research Journal of Fisheries and Hydrobiology, 6(3): 192-210, 2011 ISSN 1816-9112 ORIGINAL ARTICLES The Probability Of Zagros Mountains Environmental Pollution Due To Seismic Response Of Bakhtiari Dam Zaniar Tokmechi Department of Civil Engineering, Mahabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mahabad, Iran. ABSTRACT The Bakhtiari Dam is a planned arch dam on the Bakhtiari River within the Zagros Mountains in Lorestan Province, Iran. At a planned height of 315 meters (1,033 ft), it will be the world's tallest dam once completed and withhold the largest reservoir in Iran. The Zagros Mountains are the largest mountain range in Iran and Iraq. With a total length of 1,500 km (932 mi), from northwestern Iran, and roughly correlating with Iran's western border, the Zagros range spans the whole length of the western and southwestern Iranian plateau and ends at the Straits of Hormuz. In this paper, the probability of environmental pollution due to heavy metals caused by Bakhtiari dam failure is studied. Finite Element and ZENGAR methods are used to analyze the probability of pollution at dam downstream. Different dam cross sections and various loading conditions are considered to study the effects of these factors on the seismic behavior of the dam. Results show that the effect of the highest cross section is not the most significant for heavy metals pollution at the dam down stream. Pollution coefficient due to stress along Y axis (Sy) is always the determinant pollution. While, in all sections Sx and Sy are the determinant parameter affecting downstream heavy metal pollution and normally are bigger than Sz.
    [Show full text]
  • A Case Study in Surface Water Conflict Resolution M
    The Euphrates–Tigris Basin: A Case Study in Surface Water Conflict Resolution M. El-Fadel,* Y. El Sayegh, A. Abou Ibrahim, D. Jamali, and K. El-Fadl ABSTRACT rights (Haddad and Mizyed, 1996). This, coupled with drying oases and shrinking aquifers, is likely to cause water to replace Historically, the Euphrates and Tigris waters have been a oil as the traditional driver of conflict in the Middle East major source of freshwater conflict in the Middle East. Origi- nating in Turkey, both rivers flow southwestward through Syria (Mideast News, 1998). and Iraq, to discharge into the Persian Gulf. The irregularity in In the context presented above, the Euphrates–Tigris Basin their seasonal flow necessitates the development of efficient stor- represents one of the critical water conflict issues in the Mid- age and diversion systems to ensure adequate irrigation to the dle East. Turkey, Syria, and Iraq presently share the waters of area’s dominant agricultural sector. Consequently, water uti- this basin. There has been a history of disagreements among lization projects undertaken by upstream riparian countries these countries concerning the nature of these waters, their fair trigger confrontation, leading to hostilities and strained relations. and optimal distribution, and the rights of each nation to uti- These water development projects are best exemplified by the lize these water resources. Turkish GAP project, which provides Turkey extensive control While the conflict among the riparian countries is basically over the Euphrates water, through the construction of 22 dams posed in the context of water, it is inevitably linked with in- and 19 hydropower plants.
    [Show full text]
  • Possibilities of Restoring the Iraqi Marshes Known As the Garden of Eden
    Water and Climate Change in the MENA-Region Adaptation, Mitigation,and Best Practices International Conference April 28-29, 2011 in Berlin, Germany POSSIBILITIES OF RESTORING THE IRAQI MARSHES KNOWN AS THE GARDEN OF EDEN N. Al-Ansari and S. Knutsson Dept. Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, Lulea University, Sweden Abstract The Iraqi marsh lands, which are known as the Garden of Eden, cover an area about 15000- 20000 sq. km in the lower part of the Mesopotamian basin where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers flow. The marshes lie on a gently sloping plan which causes the two rivers to meander and split in branches forming the marshes and lakes. The marshes had developed after series of transgression and regression of the Gulf sea water. The marshes lie on the thick fluvial sediments carried by the rivers in the area. The area had played a prominent part in the history of man kind and was inhabited since the dawn of civilization by the Summarian more than 6000 BP. The area was considered among the largest wetlands in the world and the greatest in west Asia where it supports a diverse range of flora and fauna and human population of more than 500000 persons and is a major stopping point for migratory birds. The area was inhabited since the dawn of civilization by the Sumerians about 6000 years BP. It had been estimated that 60% of the fish consumed in Iraq comes from the marshes. In addition oil reserves had been discovered in and near the marshlands. The climate of the area is considered continental to subtropical.
    [Show full text]
  • Academic Biography Name: Fikrat M
    Academic Biography Name: Fikrat M Hassan Current Address: Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Jadiria Campus, Jadiria St. Baghdad, Iraq. Phone +964 790 161 5871; FAX Non; E-mail: [email protected] ORCID ID: orcid.org/000-003-2624-505x Scopus ID: 1447736600 Research ID: 8828-2015 RG: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fikrat_Hassan?ev=hdr_xprf&_sg=FFhYSD qTZ1lyWfJweA-xr42eLg6kTtBcLFsVi36zCc8ZSUcUrHH65zDI0RCabEoS Research interests: - Biodiesel - All Aquatic Ecosystems in Iraq - Algal Ecology and Aquatic Plants - Aquatic Pollution - Water quality Appointments: - 2017- present: A member of College Council, College of Science for Women, Univ. Baghdad. - 2015- present: Editor- in Chief of Baghdad Science Journal - 2015- present Editorial member of Karabal International Journal of Modern Science. - https://www.journals.elsevier.com/karbala-international-journal-of- modern-science/editorial-board - 2012-2016: Head Department, Department of Biology, Univ. Of Baghdad. - 2010- present Editorial member of Mesoptamina Environmental Journal - 2005- present Consulting Committee of Iraqi Journal of Aquaculture. - Books No. Scientific Literature Title Year of The Publication 1 2014 Biogeochemical Distribution Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons(PAHs) PAHs 2 BiogeochemicalChecklist of Algal Accumulation Flora in Iraq in 2014 Environments 3 Marsh flora of southern Iraq before 2014 desiccation 4 Practical Methods in Environmental and 2017 Pollution Laboratory - Journals No. Research Title Place of Publication Year 1 Spatial and seasonal variations of Basrah J. of Sci. 12(1) 1994 phytoplankton population and related 2 Effectenvironments of sewage in Alsystem-Hammar, on Ground Marsh, water Iraq. Rafiden Engineering J. 2(3) 1994 quality in Babylon University Complex 3 On the seasonal variation of phytoplankton J.
    [Show full text]
  • Optimisation of the Tigris River Hydropower System Operations
    OPTIMISATION OF THE TIGRIS RIVER HYDROPOWER SYSTEM OPERATIONS A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BY EMRAH YALÇIN IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN CIVIL ENGINEERING MAY 2015 Approval of the thesis: OPTIMISATION OF THE TIGRIS RIVER HYDROPOWER SYSTEM OPERATIONS submitted by EMRAH YALÇIN in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering Department, Middle East Technical University by, Prof. Dr. Gülbin Dural Ünver Dean, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevdet Yalçıner Head of Department, Civil Engineering Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şahnaz Tiğrek Supervisor, Civil Engineering Dept., Batman University Examining Committee Members: Prof. Dr. A. Melih Yanmaz Civil Engineering Dept., METU Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şahnaz Tiğrek Civil Engineering Dept., Batman University Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elçin Kentel Civil Engineering Dept., METU Asst. Prof. Dr. Önder Koçyiğit Civil Engineering Dept., Gazi University Asst. Prof. Dr. Aslı Numanoğlu Genç Civil Engineering Dept., Atılım University Date: 22.05.2015 I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all material and results that are not original to this work. Name, Last name : Emrah Yalçın Signature : iv ABSTRACT OPTIMISATION OF THE TIGRIS RIVER HYDROPOWER SYSTEM OPERATIONS Yalçın, Emrah Ph.D., Department of Civil Engineering Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şahnaz Tiğrek May 2015, 146 pages Growing external energy dependence and rising oil prices are encouraging Turkey to turn to renewable energy, especially hydropower.
    [Show full text]
  • The Euphrates River: an Analysis of a Shared River System in the Middle East
    /?2S THE EUPHRATES RIVER: AN ANALYSIS OF A SHARED RIVER SYSTEM IN THE MIDDLE EAST by ARNON MEDZINI THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF LONDON September 1994 ProQuest Number: 11010336 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a com plete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest ProQuest 11010336 Published by ProQuest LLC(2018). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C ode Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 Abstract In a world where the amount of resources is constant and unchanging but where their use and exploitation is growing because of the rapid population growth, a rise in standards of living and the development of industrialization, the resource of water has become a critical issue in the foreign relations between different states. As a result of this many research scholars claim that, today, we are facing the beginning of the "Geopolitical era of water". The danger of conflict of water is especially severe in the Middle East which is characterized by the low level of precipitation and high temperatures. The Middle Eastern countries have been involved in a constant state of political tension and the gap between the growing number of inhabitants and the fixed supply of water and land has been a factor in contributing to this tension.
    [Show full text]
  • PLAY GUIDE Inside
    McGuire Proscenium Stage / Jan 11 – Feb 16, 2020 Noura by HEATHER RAFFO directed by TAIBI MAGAR PLAY GUIDE Inside THE PLAY Synopsis, Setting and Characters • 4 Responses to Noura • 5 THE PLAYWRIGHT About Heather Raffo •7 In Her Own Words • 8 After the Door Slams: An Interview With Heather Raffo •9 CULTURAL CONTEXT The Long Sweep of History: A Selected Timeline of the Land That Is Now Iraq • 12 What’s What: A Selected Glossary of Terms in Noura • 19 Iraq: Ripped From the Headlines • 22 Chaldean Christians • 24 Meet Cultural Consultant Shaymaa Hasan • 25 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION For Further Reading and Understanding • 27 Guthrie Theater Play Guide Copyright 2020 DRAMATURG Carla Steen GRAPHIC DESIGNER Akemi Graves CONTRIBUTORS Shaymaa Hasan, Daisuke Kawachi, Heather Raffo, Carla Steen Guthrie Theater, 818 South 2nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415 EDITOR Johanna Buch ADMINISTRATION 612.225.6000 All rights reserved. With the exception of classroom use by BOX OFFICE 612.377.2224 or 1.877.44.STAGE (toll-free) teachers and individual personal use, no part of this Play Guide may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic guthrietheater.org • Joseph Haj, artistic director or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Some materials published herein are written especially for our Guide. Others are reprinted by permission of their publishers. The Guthrie creates transformative theater experiences that ignite the imagination, The Guthrie Theater receives support from the National stir the heart, open the mind and build community through the illumination of our Endowment for the Arts.
    [Show full text]
  • Euphrates-Tigris
    0 [Type here] Irrigation in Africa in figures - AQUASTAT Survey - 2016 Transboundary River Basin Overview – Euphrates-Tigris Version 2009 Recommended citation: FAO. 2009. AQUASTAT Transboundary River Basins – Euphrates-Tigris River Basin. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Rome, Italy The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of FAO. FAO encourages the use, reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Except where otherwise indicated, material may be copied, downloaded and printed for private study, research and teaching purposes, or for use in non-commercial products or services, provided that appropriate acknowledgement of FAO as the source and copyright holder is given and that FAO’s endorsement of users’ views, products or services is not implied in any way. All requests for translation and adaptation rights, and for resale and other commercial use rights should be made via www.fao.org/contact-us/licencerequest or addressed to [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • Excavations at Ziyaret Tepe, Diyarbakir Province, Turkey, 2011-2014 Seasons
    Anatolica XLI, 2015 EXCAVATIONS AT ZIYARET TEPE, DIYARBAKIR PROVINCE, TURKEY, 2011-2014 SEASONS Timothy Matney, Tina Greenfield, Kemalettin Köroğlu, John MacGinnis, Lucas Proctor, Melissa Rosenzweig, and Dirk Wicke Abstract This article presents the results of excavations at Ziyaret Tepe, the Late Assyrian city of Tušhan in the Diyarbakır Province of southeastern Turkey during the summers of 2011-2013, as well as from a study season in 2014. Excavation in nine operations is briefly summarized, and the preliminary results of zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical studies in three operations are presented. Major public buildings of the Late Assyrian period (c. 882- 611 BC) were recovered in Operation AN (palace), Operation W (administrative building), and Operation Y (city fortification), while an exposure of domestic architecture was revealed in Operation K. Also of importance from these field seasons was the documentation of a Late Roman, or Late Antique, occupation in Operations T and U. Zooarchaeological evidence from earlier excavations in Operation K reveal the subsistence practices of commoners during the Late Assyrian period. Likewise, the use of plants for human food and animal fodder are discussed for the Late Assyrian (Operation Q, the city gate excavated earlier) and the Late Antique (Operation T, domestic housing) periods. These combined reports outline the importance of animal husbandry, as well as agricultural production of grain, as key economic aspects of the Late Assyrian settlement, and complement existing cuneiform documentation. Introduction This paper represents the final installation in our preliminary report series inAnatolica covering the excavations at Ziyaret Tepe, the Late Assyrian city of Tušhan, in the Diyarbakır Province of southeastern Turkey.
    [Show full text]
  • The Waters of Euphrates and Tigris: an International Law Perspective
    The Waters of Euphrates and Tigris: An International Law Perspective A Study by Adele J. Kirschner and Katrin Tiroch* A. von Bogdandy and R. Wolfrum, (eds.), Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law, Volume 16, 2012, p. 329-394. © 2012 Koninklijke Brill N.V. * This Study was written as part of the MPIL Global Knowledge Transfer project on “Water Conflicts in International Law” financed by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, see <www.mpil.de/red/water>. The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Rüdiger Wolfrum, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Beyerlin and Dr. Tilmann Röder for their invaluable comments on the article. Special thanks also go to Nicolas Bremer, Jie-Yoon Kim and David Reichwein for their kind assistance. 330 Max Planck UNYB 16 (2012) I. Introduction II. Geography, Climate and Hydrological Setting 1. Geography a. The Euphrates b. The Tigris 2. Climate 3. Hydrological Setting III. Utilization of the Rivers and Development Plans 1. Iraq 2. Syria 3. Turkey 4. Conclusion IV. Historical Overview on Water Politics in the Euphrates and Tigris Region 1. Developments before World War II 2. Developments after World War II V. International Law in the Euphrates and Tigris Region 1. International Water Law a. Introduction b. Equitable and Reasonable Utilization of an International Water- course c. Obligation not to Cause Harm d. Procedural Obligations e. Environmental Protection f. Groundwater g. Vital Human Needs h. Water Principles in Islamic Law 2. Bilateral Agreements a. Water Sharing Agreements before the 1990s aa. Turkey and Iraq bb. Syria and Turkey cc. Iraq and Syria b.
    [Show full text]
  • Chemical Composition of Iraq Water Resources (Abbreviated Translation) [Translation From: Vodnye Resursy 1975(4,) 173-185]
    Chemical composition of Iraq water resources (abbreviated translation) [Translation from: Vodnye Resursy 1975(4,) 173-185] Item Type monograph Authors Zinov'ev, E.V. Publisher Freshwater Biological Association Download date 28/09/2021 08:16:42 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/22538 Freshwater Biological Association FBA Translation (New Series) No. 156 Title: Chemical composition of Iraq water resources (abbreviated translation) Author(s) AL-SAHAF,H Reference: Vod. Resour. 1975 (4), 173-l85 Original language: Russian Date of publication of original: 1975 Translator: J. Rzoska Date of publication of translation: 1981 Number of pages of translation: 7 FBA Translations are to be considered as "provisional". As a rule they have not been prepared by expert translators. nor have, they been edited by the original authors. They are available from The Librarian, Freshwater Biological Association. The Ferry House, Far Sawrey, AMBLESIDE Westmorland. England, at the current rate for xerox copying. 1 FBA TRANSLATION (NEW SERIES), No 156 AL-SAHAF, M. (1975) Chemical composition of Iraq water resources. [Abbreviated Translation] Vod. Resour. 1975(4), 173-185. Translated by: J. Rzoska Six laboratories and institutes deal with different aspects of water in Iraq, most are in Baghdad. 8 million people live in the river basins, about 4/5 of the total population. Hydro-chemical regime of Tigris Under the influence of tributaries, Great Zab, Little Zab, Adheym, Diyala. Judging by electrical conductivity of Table 2 and Table 1, the mineral content of the Tigris depends on the season. At low water mineral contents in mg/l are higher than at high water; Fig.
    [Show full text]