🏛️ The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities
UNESCO World Heritage Site combining ancient Mesopotamian cities and vital wetland ecosystems
📋 Fast Facts
- Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016 under both natural and cultural criteria
- Comprises four major marshland areas (Hawizeh, Central, East Hammar, and West Hammar) and three ancient Sumerian cities (Uruk, Ur, and Tell Eridu)
- Home to over 200 bird species and vital stopover on the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds
- The Ma'dan (Marsh Arabs) have inhabited the region for over 5,000 years, maintaining traditional livelihoods
The Ahwar of Southern Iraq is a rare mixed World Heritage Site that merges natural and cultural heritage ...