Baladeh Qanat, Ancient water system in Ferdows County, Iran
Baladeh Qanat is an underground water network in the Ferdows plain consisting of 16 active channels and two natural springs that stretch across approximately 35 kilometers. The system delivers groundwater to agricultural areas through a series of interconnected tunnels and vertical access shafts.
The system originated during the Sassanid period and has maintained its original engineering approach using vertical shafts for water extraction. The construction methods and maintenance practices have remained fundamentally unchanged since their ancient inception.
Local water managers known as Kial coordinate water distribution among farming zones following traditional Persian allocation methods that have shaped community life for centuries. Visitors can observe how these practices remain embedded in daily agricultural routines.
Visitors can explore sections of the tunnel system, though some areas remain in active use for irrigation and may have restricted access. The best visiting conditions are during periods of lower water flow, typically outside the main growing season.
The system uses a specialized technique where channel linings are coated with clay by specialists called Tirehgar to prevent water seepage into the ground. This method demonstrates the precise engineering knowledge developed to preserve water in arid climates.
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