DOCSLIB.ORG

Chapter 5 Shatt Al Arab, Karkheh and Karun Rivers

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Chapter 5 Shatt al Arab, Karkheh and Karun Rivers INVENTORY OF SHARED WATER RESOURCES IN WESTERN ASIA (ONLINE VERSION) How to cite UN-ESCWA and BGR (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia; Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe). 2013. Inventory of Shared Water Resources in Western Asia. Beirut. CHAPTER 5 - SHATT AL ARAB, KARKHEH AND KARUN RIVERS Shatt al Arab, Karkheh and Karun Rivers EXECUTIVE SUMMARY There are no water agreements in place for the Shatt al Arab, Karun or Karkheh Rivers. The Shatt al Arab River is formed by the However, Iran and Iraq have agreed to cooperate confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers on issues of common concern. near the city of Qurnah in southern Iraq. Downstream of Qurnah, the area draining to the Shatt al Arab region is shared between Iran KEY CONCERNS and Iraq. In addition to the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, the Karkheh and the Karun sub-basins WATER QUANTITY contribute water to the Shatt al Arab. Both the Karkheh and the Karun Rivers originate in the Intensive water resource development (mainly dams and irrigation Zagros Mountains in Iran and discharge into the infrastructure) in the upstream areas of the Euphrates and Tigris Basins has resulted in a reduction of flows to the Shatt al Arab River and Mesopotamian Shatt al Arab. Marshes. Iraq has voiced concern over recent Iranian plans to construct a levy along the The Shatt al Arab River forms the main source Iran-Iraq border through the Haweizeh Marshes. Such a levy would reduce of freshwater for the Persian Gulf and plays freshwater flow to Iraq, further threatening the marsh ecosystems. an important role for marine habitats in the Gulf’s north-eastern coastal areas. However, WATER QUALITY the large-scale development of upstream water The drainage of the Mesopotamian Marshes has had a negative impact on the regulation and dam structures, together with Shatt al Arab and the Persian Gulf: the increase in salinity levels in the Shatt al the drainage of the Mesopotamian Marshes have Arab has caused noticeable degradation of coastal areas in Kuwait due to the caused severe salinization of the river. This not presence of toxic sediments in the Gulf. Increased pollution from agricultural, only threatens marine ecosystems in the Gulf, industrial and domestic effluents forms an additional problem. but also jeopardizes agricultural activity along the Shatt al Arab. FACTS SHATT AL ARAB RIVER KARKHEH RIVER BASIN KARUN RIVER BASIN RIVER RIPARIAN COUNTRIES Iran, Iraq Iran, Iraq - BASIN AREA SHARES - Iran 98%, Iraq 2% Iran BASIN AREA - 51,110 km2 71,980 km2 RIVER LENGTH 192 km 964 km 867 km MEAN ANNUAL FLOW VOLUME .. 5.8 BCM 24.5 BCM MAIN DAMS - 2 (max. storage capacity 7.9 BCM) 6 (max. storage capacity 12.4 BCM) PROJECTED IRRIGATED AREA .. .. .. BASIN POPULATION - 4 million 3.5 million 148 INVENTORY OF SHARED WATER RESOURCES IN WESTERN ASIA - PART I Tehran As-Sulaymaniyah Semnan Qeshlagh OVERVIEW MAP$ Sanandaj Derbendikhan 48°E 50°E 52°E $ Georgia Armenia Azerbaijan $ Turkey Hamadan Qom Iran Syria Qarasou Gamasiab Lebanon | ¸ Iraq ¸ Kermanshah Jordan Hemrin Arak Diyala Kuwait $ 34°N 34°N Karkheh Saudi Arabia Ba qubah sub-basin Ilam ¸ I r a n Baghdad Saymareh Gangir Khorramabad Kashkan ¸ Sezer Karun Karkheh sub-basin Bakhtiari Tigris Meymeh Changooleh basin Dez Esfahan Kut $ Al-Hillah ¸ Tigris Karkheh Dez $ $ Kut Dwairej ¸ Nader Upper Gotvand Paye Pole Shah (under construction) Tib $ $ Shahrekord Ad Diwaniyah Karun An Najaf Masjed $ Soleyman $ 32°N Karun-1 32°N Karkheh Karun-3 Main Outfall DrainEuphrates Amarah Masjed Soleyman $ basin Karun-4 Vanak I r a q Hamidiyeh $ ¸ Lordegan As-Samawah | Khersah Euphrates Ahvaz Karun Qurnah Nasiriyah Shatt |al Arab Basrah Khorramshahr 30°N 30°N K u w a i t Persian Gulf !H Kuwait City Bushehr 0 25 50 100 150 km Shatt al Arab, Karkheh and Karun Rivers International boundary River $ Dam !H Capital Intermittent river, wadi ¸ Monitoring station Inventory of Shared Water Selected city, town Canal, irrigation tunnel | Climate station Resources in Western Asia Basin boundary Freshwater lake Disclaimer Main shared sub-basin boundary Wetland The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. © UN-ESCWA - BGR Beirut 2013 149 CHAPTER 5 - SHATT AL ARAB, KARKHEH AND KARUN RIVERS CONTENTS GEOGRAPHY 152 Climate 153 Population 154 SHATT AL ARAB 155 Hydrological characteristics 155 Water resources management 156 Water quality & environmental issues 156 KARKHEH 157 Hydrological characteristics 157 Water resources management 158 Water quality & environmental issues 159 KARUN 160 Hydrological characteristics 160 Water resources management 161 Water quality & environmental issues 162 AGREEMENTS, COOPERATION & OUTLOOK 163 Agreements 163 Cooperation 163 Outlook 163 NOTES 164 BIBLIOGRAPHY 166 150 INVENTORY OF SHARED WATER RESOURCES IN WESTERN ASIA - PART I FIGURES FIGURE 1. Sketch of the Mesopotamian river system 152 Climate diagrams for Kermanshah in Iran, Ahvaz in Iran and Basrah FIGURE 2. 153 in Iraq Mean annual precipitation in the Shatt al Arab region, including the FIGURE 3. 154 Karkheh and Karun Basins FIGURE 4. Potential mean annual flow contributions to the Shatt al Arab 156 Mean monthly flow regime of the Karkheh River at the Paye Pole FIGURE 5. 157 gauging station (1961-2001) Changes in mean Electrical Conductivity (EC) values along the FIGURE 6. 159 Karkheh River (1988 and 2002) a) Mean (specific) annual discharge, b) discharge anomaly time FIGURE 7. 160 series of the Karun at Ahvaz (1894-1985) Mean monthly flow regime of the Karun River at Ahvaz for different FIGURE 8. 161 time periods (1894-1985) FIGURE 9. Water use in the Karun Basin in 2007 161 TABLES Summary of annual flow volume statistics for the Karkheh River and TABLE 1. 157 its major tributaries in Iran (1961-2001) TABLE 2. Current and planned water allocations in the Karkheh Basin in Iran 158 TABLE 3. Constructed dams in the Karkheh Basin in Iran 159 TABLE 4. Main constructed and planned dams in the Karun Basin in Iran 162 BOXES BOX 1. Evolution of the Shatt al Arab Delta 155 BOX 2. Piping Karkheh Water to Kuwait 158 BOX 3. The Haweizeh Marshes 159 BOX 4. The Many Courses of the Karun 160 151 CHAPTER 5 - SHATT AL ARAB, KARKHEH AND KARUN RIVERS Defining the Euphrates-Tigris-Shatt al Arab Basins The Euphrates-Tigris-Shatt Al Arab river contribution to discharge, as well as water use system constitutes by far the largest surface patterns and water quality. The shared tributaries water resource in the study area. Its combined of the Euphrates River (Chap. 2) and the major topographic catchment covers more than shared tributaries of the Tigris River (Chap. 4) are 900,000 km2 from the headwaters in the Taurus- covered in more detail in two separate chapters in Zagros Mountain Range to the Mesopotamian order to highlight the role of these rivers and draw lowlands and the only outlet to the Persian Gulf, attention to local water issues and transboundary the Shatt Al Arab (Fig. 1). The overall basin is also impacts. Chapter 4 also provides information home to around 54 million people in Iran, Iraq, Syria on water use in Iran, which does not share the and Turkey. Given its importance and in order to watercourse of the Tigris River itself but hosts adequately reflect the specific conditions as well as important tributaries within the Tigris Basin. Finally, its complex hydrology, the Inventory dedicates five the Shatt al Arab River is discussed together with chapters to this river system. two additional major tributaries, the Karkheh and the Karun Rivers, which discharge directly into the The Euphrates River Basin (Chap. 1) and Tigris Mesopotamian Marshes or the Shatt al Arab itself, River Basin (Chap. 3) each have a different dynamic and are hence neither part of the Euphrates or and set of characteristics, particularly with Tigris River basins (Chap. 5). regard to their riparian countries, tributaries and Figure 1. Sketch of the Mesopotamian river system TURKEY IRAN Sajur Balikh/Jallab Feesh Khabour Greater Zab Khabour Lesser Zab SYRIA Baghdad Diyala EUPHRATES TIGRIS RIVER RIVER IRAQ Qurnah Karkheh River Karun SHATT AL ARAB City Persian Gulf Tributary Source: Compiled by ESCWA-BGR. 152 INVENTORY OF SHARED WATER RESOURCES IN WESTERN ASIA - PART I Geography The area draining to the Shatt al Arab includes The climate ranges from extremely hot, dry the Euphrates Basin, the Tigris Basin, and two summers with air temperatures above 50°C to major sub-basins: the Karkheh and the Karun cold winters with sub-zero temperatures. (see Chap. 1, Overview Map, Fig. 1). The Shatt al Arab River is born from the confluence of Total annual precipitation ranges from 150 mm Euphrates and Tigris Rivers near the Iraqi town in the plain to 1,200 mm in the mountains.6 of Qurnah and is shared between Iran and Iraq. As in the Karkheh Basin, precipitation falls The area draining to the Shatt al Arab covers mainly between November and April. about 145,190 km2, excluding the Euphrates and Tigris Basins (upstream of Qurnah), but Figure 2. Climate diagrams for Kermanshah in including the Karkheh and Karun sub-basins Iran, Ahvaz in Iran and Basrah in Iraq (see Overview Map).1 (mm) Kermanshah, Iran The Karkheh and Karun Rivers both originate in the Zagros Mountains in Iran and discharge 50 100 into the Shatt al Arab. Unlike the Karkheh Basin, 40 Air temperature 80 the Karun Basin lies entirely in Iran. The Karun 30 is nevertheless included in this chapter as it 60 contributes significantly to the Shatt al Arab, 20 which defines part of the Iran-Iraq border.
Recommended publications
  • Sand Dune Systems in Iran - Distribution and Activity

    Sand Dune Systems in Iran - Distribution and Activity

    Sand Dune Systems in Iran - Distribution and Activity. Wind Regimes, Spatial and Temporal Variations of the Aeolian Sediment Transport in Sistan Plain (East Iran) Dissertation Thesis Submitted for obtaining the degree of Doctor of Natural Science (Dr. rer. nat.) i to the Fachbereich Geographie Philipps-Universität Marburg by M.Sc. Hamidreza Abbasi Marburg, December 2019 Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Christian Opp Physical Geography Faculty of Geography Phillipps-Universität Marburg ii To my wife and my son (Hamoun) iii A picture of the rock painting in the Golpayegan Mountains, my city in Isfahan province of Iran, it is written in the Sassanid Pahlavi line about 2000 years ago: “Preserve three things; water, fire, and soil” Translated by: Prof. Dr. Rasoul Bashash, Photo: Mohammad Naserifard, winter 2004. Declaration by the Author I declared that this thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. Hamidreza Abbasi iv List of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................. 1 1. General Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 7 1.1 Introduction and justification ........................................................................................................
  • Review and Updated Checklist of Freshwater Fishes of Iran: Taxonomy, Distribution and Conservation Status

    Review and Updated Checklist of Freshwater Fishes of Iran: Taxonomy, Distribution and Conservation Status

    Iran. J. Ichthyol. (March 2017), 4(Suppl. 1): 1–114 Received: October 18, 2016 © 2017 Iranian Society of Ichthyology Accepted: February 30, 2017 P-ISSN: 2383-1561; E-ISSN: 2383-0964 doi: 10.7508/iji.2017 http://www.ijichthyol.org Review and updated checklist of freshwater fishes of Iran: Taxonomy, distribution and conservation status Hamid Reza ESMAEILI1*, Hamidreza MEHRABAN1, Keivan ABBASI2, Yazdan KEIVANY3, Brian W. COAD4 1Ichthyology and Molecular Systematics Research Laboratory, Zoology Section, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran 2Inland Waters Aquaculture Research Center. Iranian Fisheries Sciences Research Institute. Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Bandar Anzali, Iran 3Department of Natural Resources (Fisheries Division), Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran 4Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 6P4 Canada *Email: [email protected] Abstract: This checklist aims to reviews and summarize the results of the systematic and zoogeographical research on the Iranian inland ichthyofauna that has been carried out for more than 200 years. Since the work of J.J. Heckel (1846-1849), the number of valid species has increased significantly and the systematic status of many of the species has changed, and reorganization and updating of the published information has become essential. Here we take the opportunity to provide a new and updated checklist of freshwater fishes of Iran based on literature and taxon occurrence data obtained from natural history and new fish collections. This article lists 288 species in 107 genera, 28 families, 22 orders and 3 classes reported from different Iranian basins. However, presence of 23 reported species in Iranian waters needs confirmation by specimens.
  • A Case Study of Mugger Crocodile

    A Case Study of Mugger Crocodile

    International Scholars Journals African Journal of Geography and Regional Planning ISSN 3627-8945 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2020. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. Full Length Research Paper Eco-tourism necessity to preserve and maintain endangered species: A case study of mugger crocodile Ali Khaksari Rafsanjani and Mehrdad Karami* Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Allameh Tabataba'i, Shari'ati.Al, Ghol Nabi Avenue, Tehran, Iran. Postal Code: 1544915113 Accepted 28 September, 2019 The geographical study of Iran and the feasibility study of tourism attractions in the country indicated that "eco-tourism" is an apt and unique, but neglected economic resource. Protection of habitation areas is one of the main bases of eco-tourism. In the present research, we investigated the role of eco-tourism to preserve and maintain an animal on the verge of extinction [the mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)]. It is hoped that the Iranian and global environment authorities take the issue into consideration to strive for the preservation of this unique species. This research aims at the development and application of the endangered species in eco-tourism and is based upon deep interviews with the local environment authorities and fields visits. The results indicated that Bahukalat (Gando) protected area, which enjoys national and international attractions, such as the mugger crocodile (C. palustris), Oman sea coast and Gwadar Bay and regional attractions like Bahukalat river, specific customs, local foods and handicrafts, has major importance in regard to tourism development, specially eco-tourism. Key words: Bahukalat (Gando) protected area, endangered species, the mugger crocodile, tourism, eco-tourism.
  • Rare Birds in Iran in the Late 1960S and 1970S

    Rare Birds in Iran in the Late 1960S and 1970S

    Podoces, 2008, 3(1/2): 1–30 Rare Birds in Iran in the Late 1960s and 1970s DEREK A. SCOTT Castletownbere Post Office, Castletownbere, Co. Cork, Ireland. Email: [email protected] Received 26 July 2008; accepted 14 September 2008 Abstract: The 12-year period from 1967 to 1978 was a period of intense ornithological activity in Iran. The Ornithology Unit in the Department of the Environment carried out numerous surveys throughout the country; several important international ornithological expeditions visited Iran and subsequently published their findings, and a number of resident and visiting bird-watchers kept detailed records of their observations and submitted these to the Ornithology Unit. These activities added greatly to our knowledge of the status and distribution of birds in Iran, and produced many records of birds which had rarely if ever been recorded in Iran before. This paper gives details of all records known to the author of 92 species that were recorded as rarities in Iran during the 12-year period under review. These include 18 species that had not previously been recorded in Iran, a further 67 species that were recorded on fewer than 13 occasions, and seven slightly commoner species for which there were very few records prior to 1967. All records of four distinctive subspecies are also included. The 29 species that were known from Iran prior to 1967 but not recorded during the period under review are listed in an Appendix. Keywords: Rare birds, rarities, 1970s, status, distribution, Iran. INTRODUCTION Eftekhar, E. Kahrom and J. Mansoori, several of whom quickly became keen ornithologists.
  • LCSH Section K

    LCSH Section K

    K., Rupert (Fictitious character) Motion of K stars in line of sight Ka-đai language USE Rupert (Fictitious character : Laporte) Radial velocity of K stars USE Kadai languages K-4 PRR 1361 (Steam locomotive) — Orbits Ka’do Herdé language USE 1361 K4 (Steam locomotive) UF Galactic orbits of K stars USE Herdé language K-9 (Fictitious character) (Not Subd Geog) K stars—Galactic orbits Ka’do Pévé language UF K-Nine (Fictitious character) BT Orbits USE Pévé language K9 (Fictitious character) — Radial velocity Ka Dwo (Asian people) K 37 (Military aircraft) USE K stars—Motion in line of sight USE Kadu (Asian people) USE Junkers K 37 (Military aircraft) — Spectra Ka-Ga-Nga script (May Subd Geog) K 98 k (Rifle) K Street (Sacramento, Calif.) UF Script, Ka-Ga-Nga USE Mauser K98k rifle This heading is not valid for use as a geographic BT Inscriptions, Malayan K.A.L. Flight 007 Incident, 1983 subdivision. Ka-houk (Wash.) USE Korean Air Lines Incident, 1983 BT Streets—California USE Ozette Lake (Wash.) K.A. Lind Honorary Award K-T boundary Ka Iwi National Scenic Shoreline (Hawaii) USE Moderna museets vänners skulpturpris USE Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary UF Ka Iwi Scenic Shoreline Park (Hawaii) K.A. Linds hederspris K-T Extinction Ka Iwi Shoreline (Hawaii) USE Moderna museets vänners skulpturpris USE Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction BT National parks and reserves—Hawaii K-ABC (Intelligence test) K-T Mass Extinction Ka Iwi Scenic Shoreline Park (Hawaii) USE Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children USE Cretaceous-Paleogene Extinction USE Ka Iwi National Scenic Shoreline (Hawaii) K-B Bridge (Palau) K-TEA (Achievement test) Ka Iwi Shoreline (Hawaii) USE Koro-Babeldaod Bridge (Palau) USE Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement USE Ka Iwi National Scenic Shoreline (Hawaii) K-BIT (Intelligence test) K-theory Ka-ju-ken-bo USE Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test [QA612.33] USE Kajukenbo K.
  • Security Council Distr.: General 28 March 2000 English

    Security Council Distr.: General 28 March 2000 English

    United Nations S/2000/259 Security Council Distr.: General 28 March 2000 English Original: Arabic Identical letters dated 27 March 2000 from the Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and to the President of the Security Council On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith a letter dated 23 March 2000 addressed to you by Mr. Mohammed Said Al- Sahaf, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, concerning the continuing pursuit by the United States of America and the United Kingdom of a policy of hostility towards Iraq. During the period from 8 to 21 March 2000, United States and British military aircraft carried out a total of 382 hostile sorties over the cities and villages of Iraq, in flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and of international law. I should be grateful if you would have this letter and its annex circulated as a document of the Security Council. (Signed) Saeed H. Hasan Ambassador Permanent Representative 00-36635 (E) 290300 300300 ````````` S/2000/259 Annex Identical letters dated 23 March 2000 from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iraq addressed to the Secretary-General and to the President of the Security Council I have the honour to inform you that, between 8 and 21 March 2000, United States and British military aircraft, taking off from their bases in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Turkey, continued to violate Iraqi airspace, carrying out a total of 382 aerial sorties, of which 238 were from Saudi Arabia, 68 from Kuwait and 76 from Turkey, killing one civilian and wounding 14 others.
  • Karim Dahimi Place of Birth

    Karim Dahimi Place of Birth

    Page 1 of 15 Witness Statement of Karim Dahimi Witness Statement of Karim Dahimi Name: Karim Dahimi Place of Birth: Ahvaz, Iran Date of Birth: September 23, 1971 Occupation: Teacher Interviewing Organization: Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC) Date of Interview: September 25, 2012 Interviewer: IHRDC Staff This statement was prepared pursuant to an interview with Karim Dahimi. It was approved by Karim Dahimi on September 25, 2013. There are 66 paragraphs in the statement. The views and opinions of the witness expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. Page 2 of 15 Witness Statement of Karim Dahimi Statement Introduction 1. My name is Karim Dahimi. I was born in October, 1971. I was a schoolteacher and a resident of the Kuh Alavi neighborhood of Ahvaz. I am married and have three children. Initial Activities 2. My [cultural] activities began in 1989. I received my high school diploma in 1989-90 and from 1991-93, I was a university student majoring in education. Our activities at the time were limited to the distribution of statements and having connections with other groups in Mohammareh, Fallahiyeh1, Shush and other cities to hold cultural gatherings such as poetry readings. We did not engage in any other activities. Nevertheless, my file [with the security services] listed these activities as "intelligence-gathering" and "actions against national security." There was only one thing [that I did] that could have been considered very dangerous from the point of view of the Islamic Republic; my actions in relation to the sugarcane project.
  • Print This Article

    Print This Article

    POLISH JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE VOL. LIII/2 2020 PL ISSN 0079-2985 DOI: 10.17951/pjss/2020.53.2.225 FATEMEH MESKINI-VISHKAEE*, ALI REZA JAFARNEJADI*, MOHAMMAD HADI MOUSAVI-FAZL* EVALUATION OF SOIL PHYSICAL QUALITY IN DOMINANT SERIES OF CALCAREOUS SOILS IN SOUTH-WEST OF IRAN Received: 09.12.2019 Accepted: 08.09.2020 1Abstract. Calcareous soils are widely spread in arid and semiarid regions. Carbonates can affect soil quality by influencing soil pH, structure and soil available water. There are lots of calcareous soils in Iran and especially Khuzestan province, so providing sustainable agriculture evaluating the soil quality is essential. This study was done to evaluate the soil physical quality in dominant calcareous soil series in Khuzestan province, Iran. Soil physical quality indicators including Dex- ter’s S index, air capacity, soil available water capacity, relative water capacity and macroporosity were calculated. The results showed that, based on Dexter’s S index, only one calcareous soil series had a poor physical quality (S < 0.035). However, the simultaneous evaluation of different soil quality indicators showed that 56% and 22% of studied calcareous soil series had limited aer- ation and soil available water, respectively. While the weakest soil physical quality was related to the southeastern soil of Ahvaz, with both aeration and soil available water limitations. The results showed that the proper assessment of soil physical quality in calcareous soils requires considering more physical indicators than just Dexter’s S index related to soil aeration condition including air capacity and macroporosity. Keywords: aeration, macroporosity, soil available water, S index * Soil and Water Research Department, Khuzestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ahvaz, Iran; corresponding author: [email protected] 226 F.
  • Evaluation of Karun River Water Quality Scenarios Using Simulation Model Results

    Evaluation of Karun River Water Quality Scenarios Using Simulation Model Results

    Available online at http://www.ijabbr.com International journal of Advanced Biological and Biomedical Research Volume 2, Issue 2, 2014: 339-358 Evaluation of Karun River Water Quality Scenarios Using Simulation Model Results Mohammad Bagherian Marzouni a*, Ali Mohammad Akhoundalib, Hadi Moazedc, Nematollah Jaafarzadehd,e, Javad Ahadianf, Houshang Hasoonizadehg a Master Science of Civil & Environmental Eng, Faculty of Water Science Eng, Shahid Chamran University Of Ahwaz b Alimohammad Akhoondali, Professor of Water Eng, Faculty of Water Science Eng, Shahid Chamran University Of Ahwaz c Professor of Civil & Environmental Eng, Faculty of Water Science Eng, Shahid Chamran University Of Ahwaz d Environmental Technology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran e School of Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. f Assistant Professor of Water Eng, Faculty of Water Science Eng, Shahid Chamran University Of Ahwaz g Vice Basic Studies and Comprehensive Plans for Water Resources. Khuzestan Water and Power Authority. *Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT Karun River is the largest and most watery river in Iran. This river is the longest river which located just inside Iran and Ahvaz Metropolis drinking water supplied from Karun River as well (fa.alalam.ir). Karun River as the main source of water treatment plants in Ahvaz, like most surface waters affected by various contaminants which caused changes in water quality of the river (www.aww.co.ir). Causes such as constructing several dams at upstream river, withdrawal of water from the upstream to the needs of other regions of Iran, exposure of various industries along the river and discharge of industrial and urban sewage into the river, seen that today this river is deteriorating rapidly, qua today is the depth of river reach to 1 m with a high concentration of pollutants (www.tasnimnews.com).
  • Possibilities of Restoring the Iraqi Marshes Known As the Garden of Eden

    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.
  • The Mosul Dam: Turning a Potential

    The Mosul Dam: Turning a Potential

    Viewpoints No. 98 The Mosul Dam: Turning a Potential Disaster into a Win-Win Solution Azzam Alwash Founder and CEO, Nature Iraq April 2016 Water management issues in the Middle East will continue to be a source of tension in a region that suffers no lack of causes for conflicts. The current problems posed by the Mosul Dam may be an opportunity to show how a collaborative region-wide solution can become a first step on the road to new ways of imaginative thinking in the region. Middle East Program ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Iraq has seen its share of calamities in recent years, but none is as dangerous as the impending failure of the Mosul Dam. The dam, if it were to be breached, will result in a tsunami-like wave that would sweep through cities and hamlets along the Tigris River from Mosul to as far south as Amarah and even Basra. Baghdad would be submerged under five meters of water within four days of the breach of the dam. Not only do experts estimate the possible fatalities to range from 500,000 to over one million, but consider the logistics of trying to provide electricity, drinking water, food, hospitals, transportation, and diesel for millions of people. The reaction to this potential calamity ranges from the U.S. government’s caution, which has issued warnings to its expats to stay at least six kilometers away from the Tigris (noting that the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is situated on the shores of the Tigris in the Green Zone), to the Iraqi government’s nonchalance, which has only calm pronouncements to offer that there is nothing wrong with the dam and that grouting operations designed to strengthen it are proceeding on schedule.
  • Iranian Cancer Researcher Detained Despite Valid Visa

    Iranian Cancer Researcher Detained Despite Valid Visa

    Art & Culture July 13, 2017 3 This Day in History Iranian Cancer Researcher (July 13) Today is Thursday; 22nd of the Iranian month of Tir 1396 solar hijri; corresponding to 18th of the Islamic month of Shawwal 1438 lunar hijri; and July 13, 2017, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar. Detained Despite Valid Visa 1069 lunar years ago, on this day in 368 AH, the pleasure-seeking Ezz od- Dowla Daylami, son of Moiz od-Dowla the Buwaihid conqueror of Baghdad, to return to Iran around 9 p.m., was killed in battle with his cousin, Adhud od-Dowla, the son of Rukn od- Dowla, near the River Tigris after rebelling against the central authority of the despite having a valid work visa then Shiraz-based Buwaihid confederacy. Adhud od-Dowla, a few years later to join the Boston Children’s after the passing away of his father, became the senior-most Buwaihid Amir of Iraq and Fars, at a time when Baghdad was wracked by violence and instability. Hospital, according to the Boston He restored peace and patronized scholars such as the celebrated Shaikh Mufid, Globe. besides renovating the holy shrines in Najaf and Karbala. An observatory was It’s not clear as why Dehnavi built by him in Isfahan, and the dam known till this day as “Band-e Amir” was built on his orders between Shiraz and Istakhr. He dug the Haffar Canal joining and his family are being detained the Karun River to the Arvand Roud at the confluence of the Rivers Tigris and — but they’ll likely be deported Euphrates.