Iraq's Ancient Wetlands Spring Back to Life After Rains

For the first time in years, fishing boats glide smoothly across Iraq's southern marshes, rippling through waters that had nearly vanished.

The Huwaizah Marshes in southern Iraq are experiencing a remarkable comeback. These ancient wetlands, nestled between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and believed by some to be the location of the Garden of Eden, have suffered through years of punishing drought caused by climate change and upstream dams in neighboring countries.

Winter rains changed everything. The Tigris River reservoirs are now almost full, and Syria is expected to release water from its dams in coming days. As a result, 85 percent of the Huwaizah Marshes are underwater again.

Fisherman Kazem Kasid sailed his wooden boat through the revived waters wearing his traditional white abaya. "Life will return, along with the fish and livestock, and people will feel that their homeland and future have been restored," he told reporters.

The transformation is visible everywhere. Water buffalo wade through the marshes and graze on lush grass that has sprouted along the banks. Migratory birds flutter overhead, their movements reflected in the still water below as biodiversity returns to these protected wetlands.

The Ripple Effect

The marsh revival extends far beyond the water's edge. Indigenous communities who rely on fishing and herding are seeing their livelihoods restored after years of struggle.

The returning water means the marshes likely won't dry up during the brutal summer months when temperatures climb to 50 degrees Celsius. That stability gives local families confidence to plan for their future again.

Buffalo milk and the thick clotted cream called "geymar" are beloved staples of Iraqi breakfast tables. With herds returning to healthy pastures, these cultural traditions can continue thriving for the next generation.

Activist Ahmed Saleh Neema notes that while water depth still needs to increase, the current levels represent more water than the marshes have held in years. The ecosystem remains fragile and will need consistent water flows and stronger environmental protections to survive long term.

For now, though, the sight of green patches dotting the water and the sound of ripples against wooden boats signal something precious: the return of hope to one of civilization's oldest landscapes.