Kariz Underground City‌

Step Into the Past at Kariz Underground City

The underground city of Kariz, literally means "qanat" or aqueduct, was built over 2,000 years ago by the residents of the city of Harireh to collect and store drinking or "sweet" water. The locals explored the coral layers of the island in search of water and constructed the qanat to direct fresh water into their homes and farms. Over the following centuries, the water not only quenched thirst but was also exported to neighboring states, where traders exchanged it for sugar or cash.

The ancient water management system collected water from 274 wells across an area of 14 square kilometers and directed it into a central purification shaft, filled with three layers of filtering materials. The top layer consisted of coral gravel, which was used to neutralize acids in the water and filter out larger solid particles. Below that, a layer of coral sand mixed with clay filtered finer particles, while the bottom layer was made of marl, a special type of clay.

At a depth of 16 meters below the coral island, tunnels were reinforced for safety. The ceilings of these tunnels rise up to 8 meters and are primarily covered with fossilized shells and corals, estimated to be 53 to 570 million years old. The temperature remains steady between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius year-round.

Currently, the underground city features a network of shops, cafes, and several cinemas. There are plans to expand the city by opening new restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, and museums, all while preserving the historical structure of the city.