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The marshes are a beautiful natural phenomena in hot southern deserts of Iraq. These wetlands lie between the three Iraqi provinces of Maysan, Dhiqar and Basrah. The lowlands gather the waters of both the Tigress and the Euphrates rivers. In some places they come to a complete standstill.
The climate here has allowed for reeds and many other types of water plants to grow and turn the area green. They have also for thousands of years provided a perfect environment for many types of birds and animals.
A boat, locally called mashouf is essential for transportation and fishing in these areas. For thousands of years this has been the main mode of transportation.
There are two main marshes in Iraq. Hammar on the Euphrates and Hawez on the Tigress. In size they measure up t0 20,000 square KM. The same size as Lebanon.
Historical sources say that the Sumerians laid the first foundation stone of their civilization here more than 6,000 years ago.
Some of the lifestyle of back then has been passed down from one generation to another till today. In July 2016 UNESCO listed this area as a world heritage site.
There is a small number of villages in the middle of the wetlands. We will stop by one such village.
They live a simple life here. They have made their homes from reeds. They also raise water buffaloes that live not far from their own living quarters.
These rivers and water flows have been here for thousands of years but during the regime of Saddam Hussein it was all dried. In a way that the whole area was turned into a dry desert. After the regime life came back here once again. The reeds grew back and the scenery returned to normal.
Because of its intense greenery and inaccessibility Shiite groups had turned the area into a base for their militant activities against the former regime. It was also from here they staged the uprising of 1991. But after crushing the revolt, the regime set out in 1992 to dry up the entire place.
After stopping the waters and turning the area into a barren desert, Saddam Hussein then launched a genocide campaign against its population and killed or imprisoned thousands of them. This place could be one that carries memories of the old days. This is a monument for the victims of the marshes massacre. Inside the monument dozens of documents and photos have been preserved. They all point to the dark days that this beautiful place went through.
Saddam’s regime wanted to forever kill this place and end its life, but after his overthrow the waters of the Euphrates were returned and the marshes came back to life.
But the low levels of the Euphrates is once again another threat to the marshes, mainly to the big water and dam projects in neighboring Turkey.
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