| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 Interactive map of East Hammar Marshes | |
| Part of | Ahwar of Southern Iraq |
| Criteria | Mixed: (iii)(v)(ix)(x) |
| Reference | 1481-003 |
| Inscription | 2016 (40thSession) |
| Area | 20,342 ha (78.54 sq mi) |
| Buffer zone | 12,721 ha (49.12 sq mi) |
| Coordinates | 30°44′21″N47°26′19″E / 30.73917°N 47.43861°E /30.73917; 47.43861 |
  Hammar Marshes Location of Hammar Marshes in Iraq | |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of West Hammar Marshes | |
| Part of | Ahwar of Southern Iraq |
| Criteria | Mixed: (iii)(v)(ix)(x) |
| Reference | 1481-004 |
| Inscription | 2016 (40thSession) |
| Area | 79,991 ha (308.85 sq mi) |
| Buffer zone | 68,403 ha (264.11 sq mi) |
| Coordinates | 30°50′30″N46°41′03″E / 30.84167°N 46.68417°E /30.84167; 46.68417 |
Hammar Marshes Location of Hammar Marshes in Iraq | |
| Designations | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Hammar Marsh |
| Designated | 7 April 2014 |
| Reference no. | 2242[1] |
TheHammar Marshes (Arabic:هور الحمار) are a largewetland complex in southeasternIraq that are part of theMesopotamian Marshes in theTigris–Euphrates river system. Historically, the Hammar Marshes extended up to 4,500 km2 (1,700 sq mi) during seasonal floods.[1] They were destroyed during the 1990s by large-scale drainage, dam and dike construction projects. Since 2003, they are recovering following reflooding and destruction of dams.[2]
The Hammar Marshes are located in theDhi Qar andBasra Governorates. They are bordered in the north by the city ofAl-Qurnah, in the northeast by theEuphrates River, in the southeast by the city ofBasra, in the south bysaline lakes and theArabian Desert, in the west and northwest by the urban centres ofNasiriyah and Al-Chibayish. Its main water sources are the Euphrates and its tributaries. Additional water from theTigris reached the wetland through overflow from theCentral Marshes. Until the 1970s, the wetland stretched over 120 km × 25 km (75 mi × 16 mi) and permanently covered an area of 2,800 km2 (1,100 sq mi) that extended to about 4,500 km2 (1,700 sq mi) during seasonal floods.[1] It was the largest inWest Asia.[2]
The shalloweutrophic and slightlybrackishLake Hammar is the largest water body in the Hammar Marshes.[3]
The main ethnic group in the area is theMarsh Arabs.[1]
Massive drainage projects were started in the 1990s. Canals and embankments were built that split the once contiguous wetland into two, the West and East Hammar Marshes. An additional barrier between the two parts is theRumaila oil field.[1]By 2000, less than 15% of the Hammar Marshes remained. Following the2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, returning Marsh Arabs broke embankments and drainage works, so that the wetland started to reflood. By the following year, vegetation had regrown significantly in the western part of the Hammar Marshes, and wildlife species returned. Recovery of the marshland habitat has been greater than expected, though there are still long-term risks to the habitat's viability due to pollution and water extraction from the Euphrates.[2] The salinity level of the re-flooded wetlands is higher than in typical freshwater wetlands.[3]
The main plant species in the Hammar Marshes arehornwort,whorl-leaf watermilfoil,common reed,bulrush,sago pondweed,southern cattail andshining pondweed.[1][2]
Bird counts between 2003 and 2005 revealed that the most common species in the Hammar Marshes arelittle egret,black-headed gull,slender-billed gull,common gull andlittle tern.[2]Notable birds includewestern marsh harrier,purple heron,grey heron,great cormorant,western cattle egret,black-winged stilt,little grebe,pied kingfisher,white-throated kingfisher andmalachite kingfisher,white wagtail,isabelline shrike,bluethroat,Iraq babbler,white-eared bulbul,graceful prinia,common chiffchaff andhouse sparrow.[1]
Mammal-oriented surveys carried out between 2009 and 2012 revealed the presence ofjungle cat,European otter,gray wolf,red fox,golden jackal,striped hyena,honey badger,small Asian mongoose,wild boar,long-eared hedgehog,Kuhl's pipistrelle,Cape hare,Euphrates jerboa,brown rat,Asian house shrew,Etruscan shrew andhouse mouse.[4]