ANCIENT RAINFALL HARVESTING AND STORAGE SYSTEM IN KISH ISLAND PERSIAN GULF, IRAN

Our intelligent ancestors have tried to convey fresh water from mountain downhill areas into desert lands through a system they themselves had invented: QANAT. One of the interesting qanat systems is l ocated in Kish Island in Persian Gulf. This qanat system has drawn attention since 1992. Surveys show that the system dates back more than 2000 years ago. The system and its associated underground city is one of the worthseeing places of Kish Island. There are several qanats in the island. Numerous wells have been installed along the qanats paths, mainly used for recharging and dredging purposes. The wells are spaced about 15 meters from each other. Qanat top consists of coral formations with 2 to 15 meter thick. Qanat bed comprised of impervious marl stones. This combination cause the percolated rainwater through the coral layer is stored over the impervious marl layer developing shallow groundwater aquifers. Overall function of the Kish qanat system is rainwater harvesting and collecting, underground storage of water, conveyance and distribution of the stored water. This paper intends to introduce this amazing unique qanat system and its functions and performance.