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The tranquil Iraqi Marshlands are now a World Heritage Site
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An Iraqi man rides a boat in the Ahwar area in the southern Maysan province -- also known as the Iraqi Marshlands -- one of the world's largest inland delta systems. (AFP)
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An Iraqi boy looks on from behind a fence. UNESCO has named Iraqi marshlands once ravaged by dictator Saddam Hussein as a World Heritage Site, a bright spot for a country where jihadists have repeatedly sought to wipe out history. (AFP)
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An Iraqi man gets off a boat. The marshlands once stretched across some 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 square miles), but they were devastated after Saddam ordered them drained in the 1990s to stop them being used as hideouts by Shiite guerrillas opposed to his regime. (AFP)
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Iraqis going about their regular business in the marshlands. (AFP)
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Iraq wanted ‘world heritage’ status for the marshes since 2003. (AFP)
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An Iraqi man rides a boat. The marshlands are one of the world’s largest inland delta systems. (AFP)
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An Iraqi girl stands next to a hut. (AFP)
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Many dams and canals ordered built by Saddam have now been demolished. (AFP)
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Tigris and Euphrates then flooded back and humans found this place to live again. (AFP)
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