Iraq's southern marshes are waking up after a 30-year drought by a wave of ecotourists picnicking and paddling down their replenished river bends, according to AFP.
A one-room home made of elaborately woven palm reeds floats on the river surface. Near it is a soft plume of smoke that curls up from a fire-pit where carp is being grilled, Iraqi-style.
In the Iraqi district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, boats drift by, carrying couples and groups of friends singing to the beat of drums.
This picture taken on March 29, 2019 shows a floating palm reed-woven house for tourists in the marshes of the southern Iraqi district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Iraqi marsh-dwellers navigate their canoes in the marshes of the southern district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra, on March 29, 2019. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Thirty years after Saddam Hussein starved them of water, Iraq's southern marshes are blossoming once more thanks to a wave of ecotourists picnicking and paddling down their replenished river bends. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Jassim al-Assadi, director of Nature Iraq, an environmental activist group advocating for long-term ecotourism planning better protection for the Iraqi marshes, sits at his office in the southern district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Abu Hayder, an Iraqi ecotourism guide, poses for a picture with his wife in the southern district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra, on March 29, 2019. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Tourists sitting inside a floating palm reed-woven house in the marshes of the southern Iraqi district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra. Hussein FALEH / AFP
A tourist sketches a drawing of a palm reed-woven house in the marshes of the southern Iraqi district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra, on March 29, 2019. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Abu Hayder, an Iraqi ecotourism guide, navigates a canoe in the marshes of the southern district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra, on March 29, 2019. Hussein FALEH / AFP
An Iraqi tourist grills fish by the marshes of the southern district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra, on March 29, 2019. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Thirty years after Saddam Hussein starved them of water, Iraq's southern marshes are blossoming once more thanks to a wave of ecotourists picnicking and paddling down their replenished river bends. Hussein FALEH / AFP
This picture taken on March 29, 2019 shows a floating palm reed-woven house for tourists in the marshes of the southern Iraqi district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Iraqi marsh-dwellers navigate their canoes in the marshes of the southern district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra, on March 29, 2019. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Thirty years after Saddam Hussein starved them of water, Iraq's southern marshes are blossoming once more thanks to a wave of ecotourists picnicking and paddling down their replenished river bends. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Jassim al-Assadi, director of Nature Iraq, an environmental activist group advocating for long-term ecotourism planning better protection for the Iraqi marshes, sits at his office in the southern district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Abu Hayder, an Iraqi ecotourism guide, poses for a picture with his wife in the southern district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra, on March 29, 2019. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Tourists sitting inside a floating palm reed-woven house in the marshes of the southern Iraqi district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra. Hussein FALEH / AFP
A tourist sketches a drawing of a palm reed-woven house in the marshes of the southern Iraqi district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra, on March 29, 2019. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Abu Hayder, an Iraqi ecotourism guide, navigates a canoe in the marshes of the southern district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra, on March 29, 2019. Hussein FALEH / AFP
An Iraqi tourist grills fish by the marshes of the southern district of Chibayish in Dhi Qar province, about 120 kilometres northwest of the southern city of Basra, on March 29, 2019. Hussein FALEH / AFP
Thirty years after Saddam Hussein starved them of water, Iraq's southern marshes are blossoming once more thanks to a wave of ecotourists picnicking and paddling down their replenished river bends. Hussein FALEH / AFP
You may also like
Subscribe
Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content
