In Iran, water is a treasure hidden in the mountains and for 3000 years, those living in the desert have learnt how to dig into earth and rock to extract the water from an arid ground. « Quanats » are subterranean wells collecting ground water from the mountains for the towns and villages. Water that quenches the thirst of man and beast, irrigates the fields. Some « quanats » are several centuries old, but they are still functional.