TWO MORE HISTORIC CANALS OF UZBEKISTAN ADDED TO THE WORLD HERITAGE OF IRRIGATION STRUCTURES REGISTER

On 14 October, certificates and commemorative plaques for both canals were ceremonially presented during the 26th ICID International Congress, currently taking place in Marseille, France.

The Dargom Canal is one of the oldest irrigation systems in Central Asia still in operation. Its history dates back to the 5th–4th centuries BC. Stretching approximately 102 kilometres, the canal has supplied water to the Samarkand oasis for more than two millennia, playing a vital role in the development of agriculture and the region’s water supply.

The Shahrud Canal is believed to have been constructed in the 3rd–4th centuries AD. For centuries, it has played an important role in the development of agriculture, urban life and the prosperity of the Bukhara oasis. The canal’s history is closely linked to the Historic Centre of Bukhara, which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

This recognition marks an important milestone in the international acknowledgment of Uzbekistan’s centuries-old irrigation expertise, water management traditions and engineering heritage.

It is worth recalling that in 2025, Uzbekistan’s Doʻstlik and Eski Tuyatortar canals were also recognized as World Heritage Irrigation Structures. With the addition of Dargom and Shahrud, Uzbekistan continues to strengthen its presence on the international register of historic irrigation heritage.