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Al-Chibayish

05/31/2024 City trips

Al-Chibayish

Looking for something different to visit?Something out of the ordinary and unusual? Something that will give you a new perspective in the way of life? Al-Chibayish is your answer! A town on the Euphrates River in Al-Chibayish District, Dhi Qar governorate, in southern Iraq. It is the capital of its eponymous district. It is inhabited primarily by Marsh Arabs, and has historically been an important hub for the Marsh Arab people and a traditional boat-building center for their mashoof canoes.

A mashoof is a long and narrow canoe traditionally used on the Mesopotamian Marshes and rivers of southern Iraq. It was widely used by the Marsh Arabs, as a fishing boat, water taxi, and primary means of transportation for people and goods. The mashoof's skinniness makes it an ideal vessel for navigating between the reeds and grasses of the marshes. The mashoof dates back to ancient Sumer, 5,000 BC. A mashoof was found in the ancient Sumerian city of Ur.

Hammar Marshes are a large wetland complex in southeastern Iraq that are part of the Mesopotamian Marshes in the Tigris–Euphrates river system. The flora in the Hammar Marshes are hornwort, whorl-leaf watermilfoil, common reed, bulrush, sago pondweed, southern cattail and shining pondweed. As for the fauna, the presence of jungle cat, European otter, gray wolf, red fox, golden jackal, striped hyena, honey badger, small Asia mongoose, wild boar, long-eared hedgehog, Kuhl's pipistrelle, and Cape hare are the most common sights. Birds that are most common in the Hammar Marshes are little egret, black-headed gull, slender-billed gull, common gull and little tern. Notable birds include western marsh harrier, purple heron, grey heron, great cormorant, western cattle egret, black-winged stilt, little grebe, pied kingfisher, white-throated kingfisher and malachite kingfisher, white wagtail, isabelline shrike, bluethroat, Iraq babbler, white-eared bulbul, graceful prinia, common chiffchaff and house
sparrow.

If the view isn’t enough to convince you, then the food will surely do! The Marsh Arabs are well-known for their generosity when it comes to feeding their guests. Since they live close to water, you can guess what their favorite meal is! Of course, it’s fish! Caught fresh straight from the river. You certainly will never taste anything like it. They use a special blend of spices to enhance the freshness of the fish, while slowly grilling it over an open fire. Your taste buds will surely thank you for this unique experience!

So, what are you waiting for? Grab someone to travel with and experience the unique Iraqi Marshes like thousands of other tourists have! You definitely won’t regret it! Who knows, maybe you’ll meet a friendly buffalo that might greet you!