Fairouz Megdiche Kharrat

Bio: Fairouz Megdiche Kharrat is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Qanat. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 16 citations.

The Qanat as a Crucial Antique Water Acquisition System Common to Arid Zones’ Communities: Two case Studies, Foggaras inTunisia and Afalaj in Oman

Abstract: Water, the first mirror of the man who reasons, was considered at the dawn of the Greek philosophy as the origin of all things. Across the times of the landscape, societies have attempted to control this material necessary for their existence and proliferation. In its quest for water, man has built the most spectacular of systems: the qanat. This system represents one of the rare ancient procedures of water acquisition succeeding to overcome the rainfall's rhythm in arid zones. This key attribute elucidates the considerable expansion of the technique in the Near and the Middle East and its exportation to North Africa which assured the survival of generations in harsh climatic conditions. This paper highlights the existence and use of this antique system of water acquisition in Tunisia and in Oman in the light of new challenges including climate, environmental and social changes. In fact, the two countries chare, to different degrees, a main ground and surface water supply technique: the qanat; known as foggara in Tunisia and falaj in Oman. This paper explores the present situation of the system in both countries besides its near future and the ways considered for its preservation as important cultural heritage.