A precious source of freshwater, the Barda River is the main river of Damascus.
Barda River- the course
Draining the land of Damascus, the Barda River is one of the chief freshwater sources of Syria. The course of the Barda River is approximately 84 km or 52 miles long. The course begins in the Anti-Lebanon Mountains and drains in the Al-Utaybeh Lake and its adjacent water bodies.
Barda River- the sources
Apart from its source in the mountains, the volume of water in the Barda River is also increased by another natural water resource of Damascus, the Fijeh Spring. The Lake Barada is also considered to be one of the sources of the Barda River.
|
Barda River- the channels
During various phases in the past, people have dug out channels running parallel to the Barda River. The main objective was to curb any sort of water wastage and manage this significant water resource. The different channels of the Barda River include those dug during Nabataean, Aramaean, Roman and Arab Umayyad times.
Barda River- the formation of the Ghoutah Oasis
The Barda River and its channels are the chief irrigation facilities of an area of approximately 375 sq km or 145 sq miles. The network of flowing water bodies, including the Barda River, has led to the formation of the Ghoutah Oasis comprising lush orchards adjacent to Damascus.
|
