TEHRAN — On the edge of a harsh desert in central Iran lies the ancient city of Meybod, where underground water mills have long operated.

Though such mills have lost their original function due to emerging technologies, some of those are turning into travel destinations following rounds of extensive restoration.

The oasis city, according to available data, embraces 22 historical watermills. Also, there have been deserted ones that fell into oblivion over time.

The double-stone watermill of Mohammad-Abad is now a hectic travel destination for those eager to see how a mill works 40 meters below the surface. The mill is located near the village of the same name, about 50 km from Yazd.

Watermills, as their name suggests, have links to rivers, springs, qanats, or other water sources, usually man-made canals with ditches. This way, an underground one works through a water flow generated by a qanat system.

They were usually built according to the design requirements of the time, for example. They featured domed roofs with vestibules high enough to allow camels or other animals to move easily to transport grain or flour.

Iran is located in an arid and semi-arid region where its people have endured extreme hardship in meeting water needs for thousands of years due to the uneven distribution of surface waters.

According to UNESCO, Meybod is a remarkable example of the viability and transmission of human beings’ collective thoughts from different generations to the present one.

“What is significant in the city of Meybod is the regularity of city planning. The anatomy and spatial structure of the city show original plans which conform with the old Iranian city planning.”

The construction of dams, qanats (underground aqueducts), cisterns, and Yakhchals (ice houses) dates back to ancient times in Iran to counteract fluctuations in annual seasonal flows and provide better conditions for water use.

AM