"العراق والخليج الفارسي" [ظ‎‎٣‎٥‎٩] (٨٦٢/٧٢١)

COMMUNICATIONS
560
that charts and navigation marks are soon obsolete. The worst month
for navigation is September, shortly before the minimum level, before
new channels have been scoured. Conservancy was neglected between
the wars. Much of the water is drained off for irrigation during the
low-river season. The new Kut barrage checks the flow of the river
for about 50 miles above it so that the current slackens and silting
occurs both above and below; the Kut lock limits the size of steamers
and barges, and causes delay in transit. The most difficult sections
for steamer navigation are the ‘Narrows’ between Qurna and Amara,
the bends and shoals between Kut al Imara and Baghdad, and the
rapids, shoals, and islands between Baghdad and Mosul.
Qurna to Amara. The ‘Narrows’, between Azair (Ezra’s Tomb)
and Qala Salih, are only 60 to 70 yards wide, because much water has
already been drained off by canals (p. 52). The minimum depths are
5 to 8 feet at high river and 3 to 4 feet at low. The velocity of the
current varies from 3 to 5 knots at high river and from 2 to 3 knots at
low. There are numerous sharp bends with shoals in the inside
curves. Vessels cannot pass in this section, and steamers going up
have to draw in to the bank and drop their barges astern to allow
downstream traffic to pass.
Below Azair and above Qala Salih navigation of the Narrows is
easier. There are good banking-in places at Qurna, Azair, Qala Salih,
and Amara, with refuelling depots except at Azair. During the War
of 1914-1918 the Narrows were by-passed by a railway from Basra
to Amara (p. 580).
Amara to Kut al Imara. Above Amara, the river widens to 200
yards or more. This is the easiest section for steamer navigation,
though there are shoals above Ali Sharqi, and three bad reaches during
the low-river season between Ali Gharbi and Shaikh Saad. The
average velocity of the current is 4 or 5 knots at high river and i| or
2 knots at low. There are good banking-in places at Kumait, Ali
Sharqi, Ali Gharbi, and Shaikh Saad; Ali Gharbi also has a refuelling
depot.
Kut al Imara to Baghdad. This section is very difficult for steamer
navigation owing to the acute bends and numerous shifting shoals.
It is essential to carry a pilot with recent local knowledge, and
information is often passed between vessels going in opposite direc
tions. The velocity of the current varies from 4 to 6 knots at high
river and from to 3 knots at low. There are good banking-in places
at Kut al Imara, Naamiya, Hamidiya (Hashimiya), Aziziya, Suwaira,
Diyala, and Baghdad; Kut, Naamiya, and Aziziya also have refuelling