‏Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, located in Iran‘s Khuzestan Province, is a unique technique of ancient times that was developed to pave the roads of occupation in semi-desert land. Dating back to the 5th century BC, the system was built imaginatively by the famous Achaemenid king of old Persia, Darius the Great. Due to amazing human interaction with the environment, the historical hydraulic system is cited as a masterpiece of creative genius by UNESCO.

The ‏Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System includes parts that are datable to the 5th century BCE

The beginnings of the now-extensive Shushtar Hydraulics date back to the 5th century BCE, when the system was believed to have been initiated by the Persian king Darius the Great. Water was diverted from the Karun River via man-made canals that sent the flow through tunnels dug through the natural rock. The complete system was likely in place by the 3rd century CE, having incorporated the work and know-how of various civilizations including the Mesopotamians and the Romans.

The complete system was likely in place by the 3rd century CE, having incorporated the work and know-how of various civilizations including the Mesopotamians and the Romans

The infrastructure included water mills, dams, tunnels, and canals. Gargar Bridge-Dam was built on watermills and waterfalls. Bolayti canal is situated on the eastern side of the water mills and waterfalls and functions to supply water from behind the GarGar bridge to the east side of water mills and channel the water to prevent damage to the water mills. Dahaneye Shahr tunnel (city orifice) is one of the three main tunnels which channeled the water from behind the Gargar Bridge Dam into the water mill and then run several water mills. Seh kooreh canal channels the water from behind the GarGar bridge into the western side. In the water mills and waterfalls, we can see a perfect model of haltering to run mills.

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