In southern Iraq, the Mesopotamian Marshes offer one of the most unique ways of life in the Arab world. Local communities, known as the Marsh Arabs, live in floating reed houses and rely heavily on boats for daily transportation, trade, and social activities.
Floating markets operate across the waterways, where residents sell fish, dairy products, and handcrafted goods directly from their boats. This lifestyle has existed for thousands of years and is closely tied to the region’s natural ecosystem.
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Iraqi marshlands represent a rare cultural landscape that highlights harmony between humans and nature, making it one of the most distinctive cultural environments in the Arab world.
