Monday, October 27, 2008

19-20 October – Naein to Yazd, Iran


We reached Yazd after short stops in Naein, Ardakan and Meybod. Yazd is a pleasant city and was an important hub on the Silk Road. It is said that Yazd is one of the oldest cities in the world.
The city relies on its ‘qanat’ system for water supply. A qanat is an underground water channel, dug by hand for many kilometers, which transports water from the mountains down to the desert towns and surrounding fields.
Another interesting feature is the ‘badgir’. It looks like a chimney sticking up from the roof of every house, but in fact it is a ‘wind catcher’, an ancient ventilation system which helps to regulate the inside temperature during the hot desert summer.

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