The famous marshlands of southern Iraq are finally getting due recognition as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations’ cultural agency Unesco.

Yes, you’ve read that right! The Ahwar of Southern Iraq that’s abundant in plant and animal life is now sprouting once again from its status as a previously parched land.

The Ahwar was previously drained by Saddam Hussein back in the 1990’s to stop the rebels from utilizing it for cover. Back in 2003, these marshlands have been slowly and partially reviving with the help from the region’s restoration programs and have continuously attracted people and wild life back into the area.

Unesco describes the Ahwar, stating its “unique, as one of the world’s largest inland delta systems, in an extremely hot and arid environment”. Unesco also lists seven other beautiful sites within the wetlands. Three of these sites are considered archaeological, while the other four are wetland marsh areas that include the ancient sites of Ur, which is said to be the birthplace of Biblical patriarch Abraham.

Dubbed by some as the “Biblical Garden of Eden”, these marshlands have a colourful yet beautiful history that dates back a thousand years. Civilizations have been known to rise, fall, and fluorish on the Ahwar’s banks. As they cover some 20,000 square kilometres, and have played a key role in the development of not only people and culture in the region but also wildlife. And of course, the notorious Saddam Hussein, who devastated and destroyed the wetlands back in the 1990’s in order to punish the Marsh Arabs for rebelling during the Gulf War. Hussein had reduced the marshland to as little as 10% of its original size!

Luckily, after Hussein had been deposed, the Ahwar has slowly risen from its destruction. When an Iraqi engineer named Azzam Alwash returned to the country to pioneer and help in the restoration of the wetlands. He set about removing the dams and dykes built by Saddam, and planned on reflooding the marshes. Up to now, the developments have been ongoing, with the Iraqi people hoping for a fast and successful recovery.







