The village that was submerged for 36 years was discovered due to drought

The ruins of an abandoned village suddenly surfaced after decades of being submerged in northern Iraq.

A remnant of the village of Guiri Qasrouka seen from above. Photo: AFP

The village of Guiri Qasrouka was once inhabited by a Kurdish community until the construction of a hydroelectric dam 2 km north of Dohuk town in 1985 forced 50 households to relocate. The houses were then swallowed up by the water that served to irrigate the farmland.

However, meager rainfall due to severe drought in Iraq in recent months has caused water levels in the dam and the surrounding area to plummet - at one point by as much as 7 meters - bringing the village back to the surface.

"This phenomenon is definitely related to climate change," Dam director Dohuk Farhad Taher told AFP.

A tourist visits the village of Guiri Qasrouka. Photo: AFP

Due to years of being submerged under water, the ruins of houses and towering stone walls are now covered with algae, moss and shells, creating an ancient beauty among the majestic mountains of northern Iraq.

However, according to Taher, the winter rains will soon engulf Guiri Qasrouka again and before they arrive, it is an ideal place to visit, especially for Kurds who have left the village to settle down. in a nearby area.