TEHRAN-- The very first stage of a repair project on a Qajar-era (1789-1925) Ab-Anbar (cistern) in Chenaran county in the northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi has concerned an end, a local tourist official has said.A budget of 700 million rials ($1,750) was designated to the project, Mohammad Taherian explained on Friday.The project included reinforcing the structure, repairing broken parts, and replacing worn-out materials, the main added.The term Ab-Anbar prevails throughout Iran as a designation for roofed underground water cisterns.

It relates to water management systems in arid areas that are reliant on permanent springs or seasonal rainwater.Such underground tanks or Ab-Anbars become part of the iconic qanat systems, which depend on snow-fed streams flowing down from surrounding mountains.Qanats, according to UNESCO, provide remarkable testimony to cultural traditions and civilizations in desert areas with a dry climate.Located 50 kilometers northwest of Mashhad, the provincial capital, Chenaran is a mountainous destination with rich wildlife for local holidaymakers.ABU/ AM