Nahrawan Canal

The Nahrawan channel was the largest ancient canal of the Middle East. He ran along the Tigris near Ctesiphon.

The Nahrawan channel came from the 3rd century AD and was 400 km long and pointed in its route varying widths from 30 m up to 122 m. He handed the Tigris near Samarra to Diyala. The Tigris River was dammed by Nimrod Dam and diverted into the canal.

The photographer Gertrude Bell documented in 1909 the fallen dry channel bed.

Achieved historic importance of Nahrawan channel in that it prevented an artificial geographical obstacle in February 628 that Heraclius reached Ctesiphon. Heraclius was thus stopped for miles outside the city of Ctesiphon.