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Following
the arrival of Darius the Great the Achaemenid
emperor, in Egypt, Egyptians who were proud of the
water of the Nile River and their country springs,
imitated the technique used by Iranian aqueduct
diggers to provide water for their dry lands.
Historian Parviz Shahryari believes that aqueduct
diggers went to Egypt with Darius to teach the
Egyptians the method of digging aqueducts.
According to Shahryari, it was Walter Hinz, the
German archeologist and Iranologist, who found out
this issue for the first time.
Rahim Velayati, another historian, mentions in an
article on Achaemenid remains in Egypt, the same
issue, of Darius taking with him his aqueduct
diggers while conquering the land.
Many scientists know Iranian aqueducts a
phenomenon of the ancient world, a phenomenon that
appeared due to the talent and creativity of
ancient Persians.
Later the technique for constructing aqueducts
spread to other countries as well, such as
Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.
"Although it is probable that the
construction of the first aqueducts in the south
regions of the Persian Gulf goes back to the
Achaemenid era, but for sure, the expansion and
flourishing of the technique dates to the Sassanid
dynasty, due to the Sassanids' special attention
and relation with these regions," says
Morteza Honari, an expert of Iran's Cultural
Heritage and Tourism Anthropology Center.
Quoting Arnold Wilson, Honari says that there are
some evidence from the time Iran ruled over Oman;
one is the first aqueducts in the region, and the
other is the great dams in Bataineh plain and its
rich aqueducts.
Aqueduct construction in Iran dates back to 3000
years ago. The remained evidence in historical
fortresses around the country is a proof to this
claim.
Iran's economy and cultural life were intertwined
with its aqueducts since 3000 years ago. Aqueducts
created big changes in providing access to water
in ancient times. It is barely half a century that
the system has lost its significance due to the
new modern techniques for irrigation and water
supply.
Iran is the world's cradle of aqueducts, and the
central province of Yazd is today's remnant of
such ancient yet utile system; even now 55 percent
of the water of this city is supplied through
aqueducts.
Right now, there are 31,000 aqueducts in Iran,
from which more than 9 billion cubic meters of
water is extracted annually.
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