The Incredible Water System: Ancient Persian Qanats

For Children Ages 8 to 80

✍️ Written by: Shariq Ali
Valueversity

Can you believe that 2,700 years ago, in the deserts of Iran, water was transported across vast distances—without any motor or machine?

This miracle was made possible by the qanat system!
Qanats are long, smooth, underground sloping tunnels 🚇 built to carry water from mountain springs ⛰️ using only gravity 🌍—no electricity, no pumps ⚡❌—just human intelligence, hard work, and brilliant engineering! 🧠🛠️

Some qanats stretched for over 50 kilometers! 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️

These amazing tunnels turned dry desert lands into lush gardens 🌳, farmlands 🌾, and thriving cities 🏘️ like Yazd, Nishapur, and Gonabad.

Amazingly, one qanat in Gonabad is still working today! It draws water from a depth of 300 meters! ⛏️💦

UNESCO has declared these qanats a World Heritage Site 🏛️ because they offer sustainable solutions ♻️ for modern-day water-scarce regions.

Science 🔬, human determination ❤️, and a simple yet powerful strategy ⚙️—these are the secrets behind some of the greatest inventions in history.