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The Drying of Mesopotamia’s Marshes // Thread:
Located in southern Iraq, the Mesopotamian marshes are fed by the merging Tigris & Euphrates rivers and their tributaries. Here, the ancient Sumerians founded the first cities of the world and over 7,000 years later they are mostly inhabited by Marsh Arabs & remaining Mandaeans.
The wetland region comprises three marshes known as the Qurnah (central), Hammar, and Hawizeh. During Iraq’s industrial age, small parts of the Qurnah and Hammar marshes were drained. However, the damage done then is insignificant in comparison to the destruction done in the 90s.
Following the 1990s Gulf War, uprisings against Saddam Hussein and the Ba'athist Party spread across Iraq. In the Shi'a dominated south, armed rebels took advantage of their environment by taking refuge in the Marshes and eventually ambushing invading government forces.
In response, Hussein ordered the construction of three canals in order to drain the Qurnah and Hammar marshes. By 1994, the marshes were only 10% of their original size and the overwhelming majority of the Marsh Arab population was displaced.
At the same time, Turkey, Iran, and Syria built dozens of dams on the Tigris, Euphrates, and their tributaries. These dams held the rivers hostage, causing the marshes and Iraq to dry up at a quicker pace.
In addition to the alarming destruction, a health crisis followed. Iraq was under US sanctions and inhibited from repairing the dams that were destroyed during the war. Iraq, the furthest country downstream, is only able to control 19% of its water flow.
But with destroyed dams and inability to repair the sensitive water system, the nation was completely handicapped from controlling that flow. On top of the lack of resources due to sanctions, water contamination also became an issue but little to nothing could be done about it.
About a decade later, the US invaded Iraq. Resolutely, civilians destroyed embankments and the newly established Iraqi government carried out efforts to restore the Mesopotamian Marshes. By 2008, 75% of the marshes were restored, but that positive trend did not continue.
As its economy grows, Turkey has increased its dam construction along the Tigris and Euphrates. Similarly, Iran continues to build dams along the tributaries that feed the Tigris and the Marshes.
Reportedly, only 25% of the Euphrates’ water flow is reaching Iraq. Because the south is furthest from the supply, it suffers the most. Water contamination has become more common due to the weak water flow that would normally dilute toxins.
Also, the weak water flow has led to an alarming increase in water salinity levels. In the 1980s, water salinity levels ranged from 300-500 parts per million (ppm), but today they reach 15,000 ppm in some parts.
Not only is this a health concern, but also an environmental one and economic one for the Marsh’s inhabitants. Common species that once inhabited the area are now either unable to survive or have difficulty doing so.
For the Marsh’s residents, they face daily economic losses. Families that rely on herding are unable to feed their water buffaloes due to the lack of nutrients in the grasses. Fishers complain that they’re unable to catch enough fish due to high water salinity that kills them.
The Mesopotamian Marshes are drying up again and nothing major has been done to combat the destruction of this world heritage site. Neighboring countries continue to build dams, the Iraqi gov. continues to leave the rivers contaminated, and only 9% of the marshes are protected.
