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During the years that I lived in Yemen, I had the opportunity to visit the ruins of the quarter-mile-long Marib Dam. I also viewed the new modern dam as it was built and the huge water reservoir that filled up behind the dam. When the ancient reservoir re-filled with water, hundreds of old dry wells and water canals scattered through the desert below the dam suddenly filled with water again. The ancient farmlands, that for centuries had lain deserted, were suddenly usable again.
Below: With a telephoto lens we can make out the sluice gates of the old dam. The are clearly visible on the right hand side of the wadi.
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Above: Pictures of the sluice gates, which are all that remain of the original Marib Dam. In the picture on the left, the ancient dam was located between the sluice gates at the forefront of the picture and the sluice gates on the other side of the wadi. Years of erosion have removed the earthen dam, but the stone sluice gates remain to this day. |
Above: The city of Baraqish known as Yathul in ancient times. This city was the capital of the Minaean Kingdom around 400 BC. It is located about 30 km north from the dam and must be accessed by 4 wheel drive. (Picture used with permission. Copyright Ryo YAMANA. Please visit his site Fiddler's Photo Album to view more pictues from Yemen)
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