MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of landscape
Scientific Quarterly Journal

Talo as a Landscape Infrastructure; Examining the Nature of “Talo Wells” and Its Role in the Social Life of Laft Port City

https://doi.org/10.22034/manzar.2024.431672.2270
Volume 16, Issue 68
Autumn 2024
Pages 38-47
MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of landscape

Document Type : Original Research Article

Author

Zahra Nazari

M.A. in Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran.

Abstract
Throughout history, the difficulties and constraints in the extraction of water resources have always made the supply and exploitation of water challenging for the people in the central and southern cities of Iran. However, such limitations have contributed to their water-related knowledge, insofar as the history of water engineering in Iran has witnessed the creation of masterpieces such as aqueducts and reservoirs. The city of Laft is not exempt from this rule due to its geographical location and special climatic conditions. Laft’s special conditions have created a phenomenon called “Talo wells”. The current research is an attempt to scrutinize the nature of the Talo complex as an ancient water infrastructure by analyzing written and oral sources related to the Laft area and Talo wells. It also relies on the knowledge of science related to the phenomenon of freshwater wells by examining its role in the social life of  Bandar Laft through the lens of landscape discipline. For this purpose, the location of Talo wells has been not viewed as just an engineering system for supplying water but rather a landscape phenomenon and infrastructure. This study employs a case study in which the data were collected from available literature, interviews, and field observations. Findings of the study show that “Talo” as the only water infrastructure in Bandar Laft, relies on a landscape infrastructure. Fresh water, as a vital and valuable element in the city, has contributed to the formation of the city-port of Laft and turned it into a civilized habitat. If, despite the special geographical location of Laft as the closest point of connection between Qeshm Island and the southern shores of the Persian Gulf and its effective role in creating settlement and business prosperity, without the discovery and management of freshwater resources in this port, the possibility of permanent settlement and the formation of an ancient city It did not exist and Laft became only a temporary resort and a connecting bridge between Qeshm Island and the coast of Hormozgan. In addition, Talo wells have a special place among the people of Laft because they provide access to limited and valuable sources of drinking water. The special and extraterrestrial position of water in this region has elevated the role of Talo wells from an urban water supply technique to a platform for the manifestation of philosophical concepts, sacred beliefs, interaction, and social participation of people in protecting water values.

Keywords

Freshwater
Talo wells
Landscape infrastructure
Water protection
Bandar Laft
Subjects
Abizadeh, E. (2011). A View to Aqueducts Centering on Training and Reviving Iranian Native Technology, Culture and Architecture. Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development, 3(5), 1-22. https://www.armanshahrjournal.com/article_32651.html?lang=fa
Alehashemi, A. (2015). The Water System of Bukhara as the Example of Rising the Water Networks to the Landscape Infrastructure1 for the city. Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient, 3(8), 33-46. https://www.jaco-sj.com/article_13760.html?lang=fa
Alehashemi, A. (2020). Integration Between Traditional Water Infrastructures and the Residential Quarter Systems in the Iranian Cities Urban Structures and Water Infrastructure in Semnan. Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient, 8(27), 5-14. https://doi.org/10.22034/jaco.2020.216722.1137
Allaby, M. (Ed.). (2013). A dictionary of geology and earth sciences. Oxford University Press
Donfelix. (2017). Evolution of Coral Reefs. Retrieved Aug 15, 2023, from https://steemit.com/science/@donfelix/evolution-of-coral-reefs
Emarat-e Khosrshid consultant engineers. (2019). Memari-ye bander Luft [Architecture of Luft Port]. Retrieved March 7, 2023 from https://www.emaratkhorshid.com/%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA/.
Faunt, C. C. (1997). Effect of faulting on ground-water movement in the Death Valley region, Nevada and California (No. 95). US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey. 
Hoseyni Jahangir, S. A., & Fakhri, F. (2019). Status and Value of Water in Literature and Popular Culture. Literary and Rhetorical Research, 7(3), 90-102. https://doi.org/10.30473/pab.2020.50549.1729
Jafari Azad, A., Mirzaei, K., & Seyfollahi, S. (2022). Social Consequences of Water Transfer Projects with Emphasis on Citizenship. Social Research Quarterly, 14(4), 15-42. https://sanad.iau.ir/fa/Article/1111168?FullText=FullText
Javadi, S. (2013). Reviewing the Historical Narrative of “Water and Tree” in the Islamic Era of Iran. Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient, 1(1), 43-50. https://www.jaco-sj.com/article_3690.html?lang=fa
Kazerooni, M. E. (1988). Tarikh-e Bander va Jazayer-e Khalij-e Fars [The history Islands and Ports of Persian Gulf]. Jahangiri Cultural Institution.
Khosrozade, A. (2014). The Parthian Settlements and Sites in the Qeshm Island. Pazhoheshha-ye Bastan Shenasi Iran, 3(5), 79-100. https://nbsh.basu.ac.ir/article_710.html
Lilian, M., Abedi, M., & Amirkhani, A. (2010). Identifying the Characters of Qeshm Rural Architecture (With Particular Reference to Laft Village). Journal of Housing and Rural Environment, 29(130), 22-37. http://jhre.ir/article-1-37-fa.html
Mansouri, S. A., & Javadi, S. (2018). Three Elements of Persian Landscape. Nazar Research Institute Publications.
Mofidi Shemirani, S. M., Nikghadam, N., & Tahbaz, M. (2013). A Study on Typology of Southern Iranian Cities, Ports and Islands by Considering Criterion of Prosperity. Bagh-e Nazar, 10(26), 59-70. https://www.bagh-sj.com/article_3476.html?lang=fa
Mokhtaran, M., Akef, A., & Kordani, A. (2015). Aab, Jame-e va farhang: Naghsh-e tarikhi va farhangi-ye aab dar Iran-zamin [The Historical and Cultural Role of Water in Iran]. The first National Irrigation and Drainage Congress of Iran.
Omatali, A. (2004). Barresi-ye tarikhi va moarefi-ye bandar-e Laft jazire-ye Qeshm [Historical Review and Introduction of Laft Port of Qeshm Island]. Athar, 25(36, 37), 136-149. https://journal.richt.ir/athar/article-1-284-fa.html&sw=
Pourkhosravani, M., Mehrabi, A., & Amirjahanshah, Z. (2020). Monitoring Tectonic Activity in Tunnel Walls with Radar Interferometry: A Case Study of Tunnels of Hormozgan Province, Iran. Desert, 25(1), 53-63.  https://jdesert.ut.ac.ir/article_78165.html
Rezaee, P., Shahrokhi, S.V., & Zaree Sahmieh, R. (2010). Qeshm Island’Surface and Underground Water Resources and Methods for Utilizing them. The First International Applied Geological Congress Held in Mashhad .Conducted by the Department of Geology of Islamic Azad university, Iran. 
Water Science School. (2018). Artesian Water and Artesian Wells. Retrieved March 10,2023, from https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/artesian-water-and artesian-wells
Zand Moghaddam, M. (2003). Afaq-e jazire-ye Qeshm: Mardoman-e roosta-ha, bandar-ha, roosta-bandar-ha, band-ha, kesht va kar, darya-navardi, seyd-o-sayadi [Horizons of Qeshm Island: People of Villages, Ports, Village Ports, Dams, Agriculture, Seafaring, Fishing]. Society for the National Heritage of Iran.

Home

Submit Manuscript

Contact Us