HISTORICAL BUILDINGS

764-735 BC

State index: 1.3.19

Renovated in 1815

The canal was constructed during the Kingdom of Van in the 8th century BC to irrigate the gardens surrounding the city of Teishebaini (Red Hill). However, its operation ceased as a result of disruptions during the Middle Ages. In 1815, Husein Ghuli Khan, the last Persian sardar of Yerevan, commissioned the repair of the canal and integrated it into the overall irrigation system.

A tale has been preserved  regarding Dalma, shedding light on the origin of its name. According to the story, Hussein Guli Khan summoned all the skilled craftsmen in the Khanate and instructed them to find the well of the old canal.Despite their efforts, they were unsuccessful. In frustration, the Khan ordered to behead all those craftsmen. Subsequently, he called upon craftsmen from Maku, Tabriz, and Isfahan. These skilled artisans discovered traces of the ancient canal, worked tirelessly day and night, and successfully opened and cleaned the sealed well while reconstructing the damaged sections. The canal was named “Dalma” (“Deolme”), which means “excavated, pierced”.

The canal originates from the right side of the Hrazdan River, located 1 km downstream from the “Kanaker” hydroelectric power station. It shares the same catchment area as the Mamri Canal. It also passes through Ajapnyak and Malatia-Sebastia administrative districts, providing irrigation, particularly to the vineyards in Dalma, Sebastia, Malatia, and the starting point of the Etchmiadzin highway. A part of the road traverses through rock-hewn tunnels, with the shortest tunnel measuring 27 meters in length, while the largest one (situated near the Great Bridge of Hrazdan) spans 440 meters in length. In earlier times, the rock-cut section featured wells positioned every 20 meters vertically to facilitate the removal of blockages and the cleaning of the canal. Currently, those wells are closed, and a highway spans over them. The canal has a length of 8.5 km with a capacity of 0.8 liters per second. Presently, only the 5.1 km section is in operation. The width and height of the tunnels vary in different sections, ranging from 1 to 4.5 meters.

In 1923 and 1930-1938 the canal was repaired. From 1933 to 1947, the Sebastia branch of the canal was extended with the aim of appropriating new lands in the Shahumyan region. In 1955 the highway and the tram line leading to Shahumyan and Davtashen districts were passed over the tunnel.

In the early 1960s, certain sections of the canal were reinforced with concrete to prevent potential collapses.

The Dalma canal stands as one of the ancient components of the irrigation network in the Ararat valley, providing evidence of the advanced level of water infrastructure development during the Kingdom of Van.

“Scientific Research Center of Historical and Cultural Heritage” SNCO

Yerevan Municipality