Shooshtar Waterfalls in UNESCO World Heritage List

The ancient Shooshtar waterfalls in Iran's southern Khuzestan Province have been registered on the UNESCO 2009 World Heritage List.
The decision was made at a World Heritage Committee meeting in the city of Seville in Spain.
The city of Shooshtar is famous for its water supply installations, which date back to the Sassanid era (224-651 CE).
The country's largest river, Karun which encircles the city has created beautiful waterfalls in different parts of Shooshtar.
Shooshtar is an ancient fortress city in the Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. It is approximately 92s km away from Ahvaz, the centre of the province.

Iran has so far registered ten historical sites on UNESCO's World Heritage List including Persepolis, Pasargadae and Bisotun.
The Shooshtar Waterfalls are considered to be an attractive historical site. They are located alongside a branch of the Gerger, near Sika. These waterfalls were constructed in the year 1233 AH, in order to protect the Mizan Dam. In the same year in order to prevent the destruction of the dam, another dike was constructed. Thence outlets of the Mizan Dam was blocked and the course of Gerger River dried up. The Gerger Dam was also constructed on the course of this river and some holes were constructed on the top of this dam, between the two scarps of the river overlooking the valley of Gerger River in the midst of the rocks in order to conduct the water to flow through the holes, thus creating the present waterfalls.
In this way the probability of the destruction of dam decreased. Since the construction of the Koohrang Tunnel which transfers the water from the Karoon to the Zayandeh Rood River, and with the construction of Shahid Abbaspour Dam, the flow of the waterfalls have considerably decreased. But need less to say that these waterfalls are still interesting and wonderful, and account for as one of the most important attractive sites of Shooshtar city.
In ancient times Shushtar was famous for its dams and irrigation systems. Three of the dams date back to Sassanid times (3rd to 7th century CE), of which the largest was 550 meters long. The dam system fell apart through the 19th century. But even today, several waterwheels help run flour mills and produce electricity.It was at Shushtar that Shapour I, after his great victory (A.D. 260) over Valerian at Édhessa, set his captives to work building vast hydraulic works, including a large dam across the Karun River.

The historical Shushtar waterfalls are among the few ancient water structures in Iran used since the time of the Achaemenid for irrigating the Shushtar plain.In ancient times Shushtar was famous for its dams and irrigation systems. Three of the dams date back to Sassanid times (3rd to 7th century CE), of which the largest was 550 meters long. The dam system fell apart through the 19th century. But even today, several waterwheels help run flour mills and produce electricity.
It was at Shushtar that Shapour I, after his great victory (A.D. 260) over Valerian at Édhessa, set his captives to work building vast hydraulic works, including a large dam across the Karun River.
The historical Shushtar waterfalls are among the few ancient water structures in Iran used since the time of the Achaemenid for irrigating the Shushtar plain.In ancient times Shushtar was famous for its dams and irrigation systems. Three of the dams date back to Sassanid times (3rd to 7th century CE), of which the largest was 550 meters long. The dam system fell apart through the 19th century. But even today, several waterwheels help run flour mills and produce electricity.
It was at Shushtar that Shapour I, after his great victory (A.D. 260) over Valerian at Édhessa, set his captives to work building vast hydraulic works, including a large dam across the Karun River.The historical Shushtar waterfalls are among the few ancient water structures in Iran used since the time of the Achaemenid for irrigating the Shushtar plain.