Yazd has a dry and semi-arid climate and is a desert area. Water is scarce and has life-giving value more than in other areas. Therefore, more historical and ancient reservoirs can be seen in this province. Reservoirs that met people’s drinking water needs were saved for days of scarcity, like “Midadan Nodoshan.”
Among the cities of Yazd province, Nodoshan is one of those that has a reputation for having old reservoirs. In addition to the kariz of this city, reservoirs also had an important place in the architecture of Nodoshan and have a lot of connection with the ancient history of this part of Yazd province. 80 km on the northwest of Yazd city, the city of Nodushan can been seen.
In the provincial divisions of Yazd, Nodoshan is one of the cities of Meybod city. Historical retellings attribute the building of Nodoshan to the Zoroastrians of Yazd. Zoroastrians of Yazd call this city Noshok. Nodoshan was a small village at the beginning of its formation, then it expanded and became a place for historical events and gradually gained name and fame. The importance of this city and its surroundings can be understood from its old structures. Midadan reservoir is one of them that was built more than 300 years ago. This reservoir was founded in the Afsharid period, and its construction was completed in the Zandiyeh period. It has a rectangular windbreak, and next to its tank, there is a side room from which the air inside the tank and the structure are cooled. This amazing structure was built with clay and bricks; stone was also used in its construction. Because of its antiquity, this reservoir was registered as one of the national structures of Iran, in November 2014.
Nodushan’s Kharmanzar reservoir is also worth noting. This structure is from the Qajar period and was built right in the middle of farm fields. The arch entrance and its staircase is one of the outstanding features of this reservoir. Next to it a space has been built that is used as a warehouse. This reservoir has two windbreaks. Bostan Reservoir is also rectangular with its two windbreaks and is made of clay and mud, and has bricks and stones lined with ash and lime, called Dimeh. We can also mention here the “Patients’ Reservoir”, which has 10 steps, with a roof on it, leading go the tank. About the reservoirs in Iran, it is worth repeating here that they are built in several shapes: rectangular, octagonal, circular, cylindrical and compound. A cylindrical tank is the simplest type of these reservoirs, and growth of aquatic creatures is little.
It is worth remembering that Iranian reservoirs have several types: square, rectangular, octagonal, circular, cylindrical, and combined. A cylindrical tank is the simplest type of these treasures, and aquatic animals’ growth is negligible. A square or rectangular tank has a small opening and a simple arch cover; The octagonal tank is rare among Iran’s reservoirs, and the combined tank is a cylindrical vault built in the center of the structure.
