Aflaj & Wakils: Exploring Oman’s Ancestral Irrigation System | SLICE EARTH

In the north-west of the Sultanate of Oman, in the heart of the Akhdar Mountains, the Al-Ayn oasis is perched on the limestone cliffs like a small, green miracle. In this arid country, such greenery is sure to surprise anyone visiting the region. And what’s more, it has been clinging to the cliffs for nearly 4,000 years.
The town is located 3,000 metres up the mountain and enjoys mild temperatures of around 28°C, while the valley endures 40°C in the shade. Its terraces, dug into the rock, shelter large Damask rose bushes, the oasis’ emblematic crop.
The village is crisscrossed by a network of canals punctuated by deep basins. These canals are called falaj - aflaj in the plural - some of which are around 4,500 years old and are registered as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Their invention forms the basis for the agriculture of these arid plateaus. Tunnels dug into the mountain rock collect seepage water, which is diverted to tanks which then supply the aflaj. Each village is responsible for its tunnels, without government intervention, and only the wakils, water managers whose role is passed down from father to son, are responsible for ensuring they remain operational. All of this is recorded in a register to prevent conflict.
But due to climate change, water is getting rarer. Little by little, the farmers are once again banding together to counteract the dwindling of blue gold. Men like Abdullah Al-Ghafri, an engineer and professor at the University of Nizwa, are renovating wells and installing solar pumps, which more effectively preserve water sources.
Documentary: Oases: Sentinels of the Desert - Oman: The Hanging Gardens of Jebel Akhdar (2021)
Direction: Sarah Laîné
Production: ZED
#documentary #freedocumentary #ecology #earth #environment #sustainability #climatechange #science #AlAynOasis #AkhdarMountains #GreenMiracle #OmanTravel #DamaskRose #TerraceFarming #UNESCOHeritage #AncientIrrigation #WaterManagement #ClimateChange #SustainableAgriculture #CommunityResilience #WaterConservation

[@semponchellaiya6733]

Being an indian i love oman and Omani's, who were very kind and humble people i have ever seen in the Middle East.

[@jarosawwieczorek3684]

Water is the most precious jewell in the desert. It is a source of life🏞️🙏 Oman is a pearl of the Arabian Peninsula 🇴🇲

[@kokorico06]

AFLAJ are an ingenious way to disperse the water collected from rain in the rocky mountains and wadys to the green oasis and agriculture. What I love about Oman is the stability of its system they study and monitor all priorities and natural factors that gives their country life and prosperity

[@asimally9468]

I JUST LOVE OMANI OASIS SYSTEM ...

[@BuiltByJalal]

Oman has never seen war and it’s amazing

[@salman4088]

Say Mashallah

[@creamsicle1678]

it has stop lying

[@user-kl4bq9kk9x]

They never gave citizenship to any other foreigners. Migrants don't choose such a country because they know what would happen if they are caught.

[@upresins]

They have seen internal wars- the Communist insurrection in the province of Dhofar back in the 70s. But they are generally a peaceful nation and the people are down-to-earth, simple, friendly, tolerant and humble.

[@jj-xe1bv]

⁠​⁠@@upresins I wouldn't call it a war but it was a small group of people who wanted a better life but they got affected by the communist ideology but what is fascinating is that after the conflict ended many of the group leaders got a higher positions in the government like Yusuf bin Alawi former minister of foreign affairs

[@ViralVideos-fn7dw]

Good to see how people respect and reserve the natural resources... God bless you guys.. Hope in my country India people will understand that how precious water is..

[@rosanawirepa7906]

They are very intelligent people civilised and hardworking people. Blessings to them ❤

[@sadikaden5468]

We say MashaALLAH.....New sub frm Kenya Africa.

[@farooqmehar487]

I live this place from 2 years ❤

[@lloydtorres3168]

Im happy there's something like this!

[@abdulazizgulaid7284]

Masha Allah ♥️

[@sirmarisa]

As someone from Southeast Asia this amazes me. How did ancient people dug so deep into the ground?

[@gameZA40]

With their fingers

[@HariSC]

Water in arab really beautiful ❤️

[@adelbigboss]

We have this technic in south Morocco too, in zagoura ouarzazate 👍

[@ThexXxXxOLOxXxXx]

It's so magical when you go from desert climate to an absolute oasis

[@osok5492]

This is amazing documentary. Greetings from 🇽🇰

[@SLICE_Earth]

Thank you for watching us!!

[@Grail-md5er]

love it

[@sheetalbhalerao8192]

Also plant black berry,tamarind mango, Shalmali Rohida sisum,shivan jackfruit ritha Shikekai palash karanj kadamb arjuna pangara kanchan etc

[@supplegrey3613]

MashaAllah

[@Vg.008]

Fantastic documentary 👍

[@SLICE_Earth]

Thank you so much!

[@activity1]

Beautifull nature ❤

[@dontragequit5073]

One number ❤

[@kenhunt5153]

Fascinating. I am used to the acequias found in New Mexico and Arizona in the States. They are practicing a form of permaculture too. Looking at Google Maps would it not be beneficial to use drip irrigation once you have left the protection of the date palms?

[@yousafzaiafghan1]

This system is known as karaiz system in south Afghanistan, Irani and Pakistani Balochistan.

[@rudreshacharrudresh1836]

In Vijayapura karnataka india also you can find this irrigation system

[@terryjones8588]

Great video!

[@SLICE_Earth]

Thank you so much!

[@rameshbabu123]

I LOVE OMAN ..... from INDIA

[@sheetalbhalerao8192]

Plant grow tall spreading shadows various trees 🌳 suitable for Soil&climate of regions on large scale.

[@nebofrank1552]

❤

[@kenar7089]

Are they don't do cloud seeding like the other countries in the region?

[@loveall4969]

👍

[@scorpio5493]

Isn't there any form of filtration with the water? I would hope so after seeing people washing their clothes in the narrow channels?

[@odzakavdo3865]

Dzezzar Ahmet paša

[@sheetalbhalerao8192]

Will get rainfall sufficiently and timely

[@user-oj8iv8bw5d]

❤beautiful township, moreover muslim.

[@sergeigen1]

Is it called a falaj? The title seems to be incorrect, it says aflaj 🙃

[@SLICE_Earth]

whc.unesco.org/en/list/1207/

[@sergeigen1]

@@SLICE_Earth 0:53 your narrator says "they are known as falaj"

[@HayatTeeh]

Falaj one Aflaj 3456 like this

[@ChiefWebArchitect]

Why is he walking in flowing water with slippers....

[@Cirroole]

حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل

[@user-iy4ug9ez6q]

ليش تتحسب

[@DataofNature..]

Please 😢

[@easypesy9169]

Tamil nadu have same system 100 years ago

[@user-iy4ug9ez6q]

Oman has had this system since BC

[@samayanature7126]

do not waste water ! Even if you are sitting on the bank of the canal! ~ ( prophet Muhammad)

[@iphoneraina3394]

Correction, “Even if you are sitting on the bank of the canal”

[@MOHANSONI23]

Prophet Muhammad me khud ne canal dekhi ??? .... Actually Saudi Arabia only country in Arab not having any river ....

[@indiamylove4833]

​@@MOHANSONI23he visits many country😮😮😮😮

[@tahsinsworld8632]

Humanity started making artificial canal more than 3000 years ago lol poor attempt to tarnish ​@@MOHANSONI23

[@AbhaySharma-xu6jn]

😂but waste local culture and humanity by spreading peace everywhere you go 😂

[@sigmamale8155]

Sustainable and effective, good job Oman, neighbouring countries like Saudis, UAE, should mimic similar techniques if possible in their own territories, instead of reinventimg the wheel. Too much money and too little brain or will power.

[@creamsicle1678]

Sustainable - yes. Effective - No. These have been drying up all across Oman, and now only serve small villages. UAE has these also, but only for small villages as well. In fact the oldest one in the world is in UAE. There just isnt enough underground water to supply large cities any more.

[@user-iy4ug9ez6q]

​@@creamsicle1678 Oman has had this system since BC

[@creamsicle1678]

@@user-iy4ug9ez6q Same in uae and saudi. Just that this system is not efficient at all, especially compared to modern technology

[@user-iy4ug9ez6q]

@@creamsicle1678 What you say is true, but although it was useful in the past, I find that modern technology will enable it to accomplish much more than it was in the past.

[@iamlatigresaofficial]

Naliligo pala ang mga arabo?

[@peace4peaceful]

Though this was good until it said the shirt and pissed in the water they swam in. Yuk

[@workerant7874]

It never said that. By 'ablutions' they are referring to ritual washing. Look up 'wurdu'.

[@jagannathdas5491]

The wazoo, that he's mentioning involves, spitting backwash, blowing nose and snot apart from hand and feet washing. So yes. That makes it dirty!

[@akhlaqali1139]

An Indian who never washes and bathes in dung talking about hygiene😂​@@jagannathdas5491

[@ANEEAMA]

Further , when Muslims were ruling Spain , the same system was available there.

[@ANEEAMA]

@jagannathdas5491, look at any area in the video, have you seen any dirt or littering compare with India. There is no street in India without dirt , just google . First, clean your country , and then talk about cleanliness of other countries.