Marib Dam

Marib Dam
سد مأرب
Ruins of the Great Dam of Marib (1988)
LocationMarib Governorate, Yemen
RegionArabian Peninsula
Coordinates15°23′47″N 45°14′37″E / 15.39639°N 45.24361°E / 15.39639; 45.24361
History
Founded1750BC–1700BC
PeriodsAncient Yemen
Site notes
Part ofLandmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib
CriteriaCultural: (iii), (iv)
Reference1700
Inscription2023 (45th Session)
Endangered2023–...

The Marib Dam (Arabic: سَدّ مَأْرِب Sadd Ma'rib, or سُدّ مَأْرِب Sudd Ma'rib) is a modern dam blocking the wadi or valley of Adhanah (أَذَنَة, also Dhanah ذَنَة) in the Balaq Hills, located in the Ma'rib Governorate in Yemen. The current dam was built in the 1980s and is close to the ruins of the ancient dam, first built in the 8th century BC.[1] It was one of the engineering wonders of the ancient world and a central part of the Sabaean and Himyarite kingdoms around Ma'rib.[2]

Other important ancient dams in Yemen include the Dam of Jufaynah, the Dam of Khārid, the Dam of Aḑraʾah, the Dam of Miqrān and the Dam of Yathʾān. Historically, Yemen has been recognized for the magnificence of its ancient water engineering. From the Red Sea coast to the limits of the Empty Quarter Desert are numerous ruins of small and large dams made of earth and stone.[citation needed]

In 2023, along with other landmarks of the ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib Dam was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.[3]

  1. ^ Hill, Donald (2013) [1984]. A history of engineering in classical and medieval times. Routledge. pp. 19, 51–52. ISBN 978-1-3177-6157-0. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Marib Dam: An Engineering Wonder of the Ancient World". SABA. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Landmarks of Ancient Kingdom of Saba added to UNESCO's World Heritage List". Marib Governorate. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.

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