Unique structures in Iran are not few; structures that are evidence of Iranian intelligence to overcome life’s difficulties and find a way to live better and more comfortably. An example of such structures can be found in the city of Khorramabad. This city was initially called Shapurkhast. The stone whirlpool structure is one of those old remnants of the former Shapurkhast and current Khorramabad.
The stone whirlpool is a surviving structure from the Sassanid period. This round building was built next to a seasonal spring so water could accumulate during the rain and snow. In the middle of summer, it could be divided into streams and used by the people. In this innovative way that was new for its time, the needed water supply could reach the whole city.
The people of Khorramabad call the whirlpool of their city “Gerdav Bardineh.” “Bard” means “stone” in Lori language.
This structure was built in ancient Iran, to irrigate the lands in the city and its suburbs and use its water for drinking in the hot months of the year. It is interesting to know that at a distance of 12 km from the stone whirlpool, in a valley called Baba Abbas, there is a mill that takes its water from the whirlpool. The fact that during the Sassanid era and in the city of Shapurkhast (Khorramabad), they made such a foundation to facilitate the water supply to the city is enough reason for wanting to guard this beautiful and multi-purpose structure so that it is safe from damage and destruction. Unfortunately, the droughts and lack of water in the past years have sometimes brought the whirlpool to the point of drying up (we will discuss this issue later). Those who want to see a whirlpool in their tourism in Khorramabad city in Lorestan province should go to the northwest and look for this ancient structure below Takhti Square.
Structural features of Gerdab-e Sangi
The whirlpool is built of stone and mortar. These materials have been used in other historical monuments of Lorestan and Khorramabad and are compatible with the environment there. It is 18 meters from the bottom of the spring to the top of the whirlpool wall, and its walls are 3 meters thick. Another interesting fact is that in the eastern part of the structure, a valve has been built which opens and closes with a sliding device device and thus divides the water needed by the city and its surrounding lands through the constructed networks. The spring where the structure is built is full of water from the middle of winter to the first month of summer, but it dries up in other seasons and months. The most watery time is in the spring season.
Drought and the stone whirlpool
In summer of 1394 (2015 AD) news agencies reported that the whirlpool had dried up (Mehr news agency). This had happened due to drought. Thus, after years of benefiting from the drinking water of the whirlpool, during the hot season, Khorramabad was deprived of this blessing, and slowly words spread that the city may have to say good bye to this historic facility. This was the first time because no one remembers that the whirlpools had every dried up. Water shortage due to drought had created the fear that this structure should be considered as lost, if the drought continues. Drought had caused not only the stone whirlpool to dry up but also other springs in Khorramabad (such as Sarab Golestan and Shah Abad). If there would be no water stored in the whirlpool, this structure would slowly face decay. Fortunately, the drought ended, to a certain extent. In March 2015, after the rains, major repair of the whirlpool became essential. The repair work was suggested by one of the members of Khorramabad city council.
In 1400 (2022 AD), Khorramabad city dredged the whirlpool for the first time after 2 decades. It is interesting that flour months before that the CEO of Lorestan Regional Water Company had spoken about the drying up of the whirlpool due to the decrease in rainfall and the increase in temperature (the website of the information base of the Ministry of Energy – Tir 1400, a report titled: “Sarabkiv and the whirlpool of Khorramabad dried up”). What is the condition of the whirlpool now, and how is this valuable historical structure maintained , requires field inquiry, which we will follow up duly.
