Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System – Shushtar

Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System is a series of bridges, dams, mills, waterfalls, canals, and huge tunnels for leading water that work together. They were used from Achaemenid to Sassanid periods to take advantage of water more. In Jane Dieulafoy’s (French Archaeologist) Book of Travels, this complex has been mentioned as the largest industrial complex before the Industrial Revolution. Shushtar Waterfalls and Mills Complex has been built along “the Gerger River” which is among technical and engineering masterpieces of ancient time. Gerger River has been artificially built and it is said that it was constructed at Ardeshir Babakan’s reign, the Sassanid king. Shushtar Waterfalls and Mills Complex is a technical and engineering masterpiece in the world. This engineering masterpiece is unique not only in Iran but also in the world. Shushtar Waterfalls and Mills Complex was registered in the list of Iran’s National Heritage in 1998 under the registration number of 2181. This complex was also registered in UNESCO World Heritage as the tenth Iranian monument in 2009 by fulfilling criteria 1, 2, and 5 under the name of Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System and under the registration number of 1315.