Zayandeh Rood
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Zayanderud or Zayandehrud (; from "fertile" or "life-giver", and "river"), also spelled as ''Zayanderud'' or ''Zayanderood, ...'', is the largest river of the
Iranian Plateau The Iranian plateau or Persian plateau is a geological feature spanning parts of the Caucasus, Central Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. It makes up part of the Eurasian plate, and is wedged between the Arabian plate and the Indian plate. ...
in central
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
.


Geography

The Zayandeh starts in the
Zard-Kuh Zard-Kuh (meaning "Yellow Mountain", also spelled Zardkuh, Zarduh Kuh or Zard Kuh-e Bakhtiari; Persian language, Persian: زردکوه بختیاری) is a Mountain range#Divisions and categories, sub-range in the central Zagros Mountains, Iran ...
subrange of the
Zagros Mountains The Zagros Mountains are a mountain range in Iran, northern Iraq, and southeastern Turkey. The mountain range has a total length of . The Zagros range begins in northwestern Iran and roughly follows Iran's western border while covering much of s ...
in
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province () is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Shahr-e Kord. The province lies in the southwest of the country, with an area of 16,332 square kilometers. The province was classified as p ...
. It flows eastward before ending in the
Gavkhouni Gavkhouni () also written as ''Batlaq-e-Gavkhuni'', located in the Iranian Plateau in central Iran, east of the city of Isfahan, is the terminal basin of the Zayandeh River. Gavkhouni is a salt marsh with a salinity of 31.5% and an average dept ...
swamp, a seasonal salt lake, southeast of
Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
(Esfahan) city. The Zayandeh used to have significant flow all year long, unlike many of Iran's rivers which are seasonal, but today it runs dry due to water extraction before reaching the city of Esfahan. In the early 2010s, the lower reaches of the river dried out completely after several years of seasonal dry-outs. The Zayandeh River basin has an area of , an altitude from to , an average rain fall of and a monthly average temperature of to . There are of irrigated land in the Zayandeh River basin, with water derived from the nine main
hydraulic Hydraulics () is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids. At a very basic level, hydraulics is the liquid counterpart of pneumatics, which concer ...
units of the Zayandeh River, wells,
qanat A qanāt () or kārīz () is a water supply system that was developed in ancient Iran for the purpose of transporting usable water to the surface from an aquifer or a well through an underground aqueduct. Originating approximately 3,000 years ...
and springs in lateral valleys. Zayandeh River water gave life to the people of central Iran mainly in
Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
and
Yazd Yazd (; ) is a city in the Central District of Yazd County, Yazd province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. At the 2016 census, its population was 529,673. Since 2017, the historical city of Yazd is rec ...
provinces. Before the drying-out, water diverted per person was 240 litres (63 US gallons/53  imp gallons) per day in urban areas and 150 litres (40 US gallons/33 imp gallons) per day in villages. In the 1970s, the flow of the river was estimated at per annum, or per second.Beaumont, Peter (October 1974) "Water Resource Development in Iran" ''The Geographical Journal'' 140(3): pp. 418-431, p. 427


History

People have lived on the banks of the Zayandeh for thousands of years. An ancient prehistoric culture, the
Zayandeh River Culture Zayandeh River Culture (تمدن زاینده رود, literally "'' Zāyandé-Rūd Civilization''") is a hypothetical pre-historic culture that is theorized to have flourished around the Zayandeh River in Iran in the 6th millennium BC. Archae ...
, flourished along the banks of the Zayandeh in the 6th Millennium BC. The Zayandeh crosses the city of
Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
,
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
. In the 17th century,
Baha al-Din al-Amili Baha al-Din Muhammad ibn Husayn al-Amili (; ; 18 February 1547 – 1 September 1621), also known as Bahāddīn ʿĀmilī, or just Sheikh Bahāʾi (Persian: شیخ بهایی) in Iran, was an originally Lebanese Iranian Shia Islamic scholar, poe ...
, a scholar and adviser to the
Safavid dynasty The Safavid dynasty (; , ) was one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from Safavid Iran, 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of History of Iran, modern Iranian history, as well as one of the gunpowder em ...
, designed and built a system of canals (''maadi''), to distribute Zayandeh water to Isfahan's suburbs. The Zayandeh riverbed is spanned by
Safavid The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the begi ...
era bridges, and the river used to flow through parks. American archaeologists and historians of
Persian art Persian art or Iranian art () has one of the richest art heritages in world history and has been strong in many media including architecture, painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and sculpture. At different times, influences ...
,
Arthur Upham Pope Arthur Upham Pope (February 7, 1881 – September 3, 1969) was an American scholar, art historian, and architecture historian. He was an expert on historical Persian art, and he was the editor of the ''Survey of Persian Art'' (1939). Pope was als ...
and his wife
Phyllis Ackerman Phyllis Ackerman (1893–1977), was an American art historian, interior designer and author. She was a scholar of Persian art and architecture and she worked alongside her husband Arthur Upham Pope. Her legacy was as an editor of the six volume p ...
are buried in a small mausoleum on the river bank.
Richard N. Frye Richard Nelson Frye (January 10, 1920 – March 27, 2014) was an American scholar of Iranian and Central Asian studies, and Aga Khan Professor Emeritus of Iranian Studies at Harvard University. His professional areas of interest were Irania ...
(an American scholar of Iranian and Central Asian Studies) has also requested to be buried there.


Water use and division

Until the 1960s in Isfahan Province the distribution of water followed the ''Tomar'', a document claimed to date from the 16th Century. The ''Tomar'' divided the flow of the Zayandeh River into 33 parts which were then specifically allotted to the eight major districts within the region.Beaumont, Peter (October 1974) "Water Resource Development in Iran" ''The Geographical Journal'' 140(3): pp. 418-431, p. 421 At the district level the water flow was divided either on a time basis, or by the use of variable weirs, so that the proportion could be maintained regardless of the height of the flow. For centuries Isfahan city had been an oasis settlement, noted for its surrounding fertile lands and prosperity. Until the 1960s industrial demand for water was minimal, which enabled the scarce water resources to be utilized primarily for agriculture. With a growing population within the basin, and rising standards of living particularly within the city, the pressure on water resources steadily increased until the division of water ''Tomar'' was no longer feasible. The creation of large steel works and other new industries demanded water. The
Chadegan Chadegan () is a city in the Central District of Chadegan County, Isfahan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Demographics Population At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 7 ...
Reservoir
dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, aqua ...
project in 1972 was a major hydroelectric project to help with stabilizing water flow and generating electricity. The dam was initially named Shah Abbas Dam after
Shah Abbas I Abbas I (; 27 January 1571 – 19 January 1629), commonly known as Abbas the Great (), was the fifth Safavid shah of Iran from 1588 to 1629. The third son of Shah Mohammad Khodabanda, he is generally considered one of the most important rulers ...
, the most influential king of the
Safavid dynasty The Safavid dynasty (; , ) was one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from Safavid Iran, 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of History of Iran, modern Iranian history, as well as one of the gunpowder em ...
, but it was changed to Zayandeh Dam after the
Islamic revolution The Iranian Revolution (, ), also known as the 1979 Revolution, or the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (, ) was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Im ...
in 1979. Since 1972, the Chadegan Reservoir has helped prevent seasonal flooding of the Zayandeh River. 80% of the Zayandeh's extracted water is used for agriculture, 10% for human consumption (drinking and domestic needs of a population of 4.5 million), 7% for industry (like the
Zobahan-e-Esfahan Esfahan Steel Company (, ''Sherkat-e Zob Āhan-e Esfahān''), formerly known as Esfahan Aryamehr Steel Company () prior to 1979 Revolution, opened in late 1960s, based close to the cities of Fooladshahr and Zarrinshahr, Esfahan Province. It is ...
and
Foolad Mobarekeh Mobarakeh Steel Company (MSC, , Foolad Mobarakeh) is a private Iranian steel company, located 65 km south west of Esfahan, near the city of Mobarakeh, Esfahan Province, Iran. It is the largest steel maker of MENA (Middle East & Northern Afr ...
steel companies and Isfahan's
petrochemical Petrochemicals (sometimes abbreviated as petchems) are the chemical products obtained from petroleum by refining. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable s ...
, refinery and power plants) and 3% for other uses. There have been a number of tunnel projects ( Koohrang) to redirect water from the
Karun The Karun (, ) is the Iranian river with the highest water flow, and the country's only navigable river. It is long. The Karun rises in the Zard Kuh mountains of the Bakhtiari district in the Zagros Range, receiving many tributaries, such as ...
River (Iran's largest river that also starts in the Zagros Mountains), to the Zayandeh. These have helped provide water for the growing population and new industries in both
Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
and
Yazd Yazd (; ) is a city in the Central District of Yazd County, Yazd province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. At the 2016 census, its population was 529,673. Since 2017, the historical city of Yazd is rec ...
provinces. While the drying-out of the lower reaches of the Zayandeh River has been attributed to drought, the main reasons are man-made. Poor planning and populist politics have led to years of mismanagement and overuse which resulted in seasonal dry-outs and ultimately caused the river to dry out completely before reaching Isfahan.


Drying up of Zayandehroud river

Zayandehroud River lost its permanent flow since 2006 and the people and farmers of this city faced a water shortage crisis. In addition to the lack of water due to the lack of snow and rain, the main reasons for the drying up of Zayandehroud are related to human errors, which can be summarized in the following cases: Converting 180,000 hectares of natural resource pastures into gardens upstream of the Zayandehroud River in
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province () is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Shahr-e Kord. The province lies in the southwest of the country, with an area of 16,332 square kilometers. The province was classified as p ...
and Faridan region. Creating structural dams and reservoirs for the development of agriculture in the mirage of the watershed. Establishment of large industries such as Isfahan Iron Smelter, Isfahan Oil Refinery, Isfahan Petrochemical, Chemical Industries,
Mobarakeh Steel Company Mobarakeh Steel Company (MSC, , Foolad Mobarakeh) is a private Iranian steel company, located 65 km south west of Esfahan, near the city of Mobarakeh, Esfahan Province, Iran. It is the largest steel maker of MENA (Middle East & Northern Af ...
, Sepahan Oil Company and many industries that use a lot of water, such as power plants, etc., on the banks of Zayandeh River. The dryness of the river has caused hundreds of thousands of residents down the river to become unemployed and has led to their seasonal or complete migration to other provinces or the city of Isfahan. This has caused a lot of damage to the farmers, so that during these years the farmers of Isfahan have rioted and protested at different times.


Closing the river and rerouting

As of November 2023 a water supply tunnel Kohrang has been under development by Iranian government for more than 20 years. The government Minister of Energy said the river would be opened five years from 2024. In 2015 the government promised to fully open the river in 2018 then in 2021 promised to do it in 2023. The government had reallocated the water from the river to other provinces cities and industries from 1980s. A database for water share allocating had been proposed.


Projects

Borujen, Ben water supply Ben-Borujen water supply is an Iranian government project to supply 100 million cube meter of Zayanderud Dam water to the Borujen steel factory in Sefid Dasht with tunnel. Its budget was more than 990 billion toman. Background It was opened ...
working water project development that had been previously blocked by government


Bridges

There are several new and old bridges (''pol'') over the Zayandeh River. Bridges on Zayandeh River in City of Esfahan:


Recreation

In the section of the Zayandeh River crossing
Esfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city has a population of approximately ...
, bridges, parks, paddle boats and traditional cafes and restaurants amongst the rest of Esfahan rich cultural heritage, are major tourist attractions for Iranian as well as international visitors.


References


Further reading

*


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zayande-Rud Rivers of Isfahan Province Rivers of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province Landforms of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province Landforms of Isfahan province Isfahan Endorheic basins of Asia Ramsar sites in Iran Former rivers