Iraq possesses distinct characteristics that separates it from the rest of the world. A blend of old heritage that traces back to ancient Mesopotamia and numerous cultural and economic resources. The Mesopotamian Marshes or Iraqi Marshes that were once drained by Saddam Hussein’s regime were finally recognized by the UNESCO as a world heritage site. Historically called the Garden of Eden, al-Ahwar Marshes are wetlands located in Iraq’s southern region that have long been underrated and undervalued. UNESCO’s decision to enlist the marshes on the World Heritage list gives Iraqis something to celebrate after a dreadful month that witnessed the deadliest attack in years. But with the potential of becoming the Middle East’s new must-see resort for tourists to the region, rigorous supervision is required to preserve and protect the marshes.

Renowned for their unique features and natural qualities, and its fragrant smell of rice cultivation and sugarcane, the marshlands boast a marvelous environment with relatively mild winters and breath-taking views that resemble the natural beauty of Venice’s canals. Between Basra and Dhi Qar, Maysan and the Tigris and Euphrates, an estimated twenty-thousand kilometers; the inhabitants live on small islands bedded with dense forests of papyrus reeds. The marshlands comprise of three chief areas: The al-Hammer Marshes, located south of the Euphrates, the Central Marshes, located between the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers, and al-Hawizeh Marshes, located east of the Tigris. The marshes vary in depth and rest on immense oil wealth.