The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities

Overview

The Ahwar is made up of seven components: three archaeological sites and four wetland marsh areas in southern Iraq. The archaeological cities of Uruk and Ur and the Tell Eridu archaeological site form part of the remains of the Sumerian cities and settlements that developed in southern Mesopotamia between the 4th and the 3rd millennium BCE in the marshy delta of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Ahwar of Southern Iraq – also known as the Iraqi Marshlands – are unique, as one of the world’s largest inland delta systems, in an extremely hot and arid environment.

Selection Criteria

(iii)(v)(ix)(x)

Components(7 locations)

• •The Central Marshes1481-002
• •Ur Archaeological City1481-006
• •The East Hammar Marshes1481-003
• •The West Hammar Marshes1481-004
• •Uruk Archaeological City1481-005
• •Tell Eridu Archaeological Site1481-007
• •The Iraqi side of Huwaizah Marshes1481-001

Details

Countries

Iraq

ISO Codes

IQ

Area

211,544 ha

Coordinates

31.5622, 47.6578