A Network Carved by Hand
Beneath the dry plains of Gonabad lies a vast underground marvel. Built between 700 and 500 BCE during the Achaemenid Empire, the Qanats of Ghasabeh stretch over 33 kilometers and include 427 vertical shafts. Designed to transport groundwater without pumps, the system still functions today.
Linked to a Legendary King
Many sources attribute its creation to the mythical Kay Khosrow. Epic battles from the Shahnameh are said to have taken place nearby, adding to the site’s historical depth. Nasir Khusraw even described the qanat as ordered by this ancient ruler.
From Persia to Present
Through Achaemenid tax incentives, Abbasid rulings, and Islamic legal codes, the qanats endured. Manuals from as early as 1010 CE detail their construction and legal use. Even as dynasties fell, the water kept flowing underground.
Revived and Recognized
In the 20th century, land reforms and modernization led to many qanats being abandoned. Yet international recognition followed: in 2016, the Persian Qanat, including Ghasabeh, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hidden beneath the arid land of Gonabad, Iran, lies one of the oldest known water systems in the world.
The Qanats of Ghasabeh, built between 700 and 500 BCE, stretch over 33 km (20.5 mi) and contain 427 shafts—hand-dug by ancient engineers to move water underground…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/WG9mH3Lbr9
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) April 19, 2025