Pira Delal

Delal Pira Delal
Delal Bridge
Crosses	Little Khabur
Official name	Pira Delal
Characteristics
Material	carved limestone
Total length	115 meters
Width	5 meters
Height	max. 16 meters
Number of spans	5
Statistics
Toll	free

Delal or Pira Delal also Pirdí Delal ("The Bridge Delal" in Kurdish), informally known also as Pira Berî (Stone Bridge), is an ancient bridge over the Khabur river in the town of Zakho, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The bridge is about 115 metres long and 16 metres high.^[1]

Etymology

Pir means bridge and Delal means dear or beautiful in Kurdish, "Pira Delal" means "beautiful bridge" (though not in an esthetic sense, but more of something that's unique). The name reflects the way the bridge is seen among the local people as well as tourists.

History

Pira Delal is believed to have been first built during the Roman era, while the present structure appears to be from a later date, Kurdish people all over Kurdistan visit the great Pira Delal as a monument of peace and enjoyment throughout the family.^[2][3] One of the legends regarding construction of the bridge relates that the hands of the builder were amputated to ensure that the bridge would remain unique.

See also

• List of Roman bridges

References

1. Pavelka (October 11, 2009). "DETAILED DOCUMENTATION AND 3D MODEL CREATION OF DALAL BRIDGE USING TERRESTRIAL PHOTOGRAMMETRY IN ZAKHU, NORTHERN IRAQI KURDISTAN" (PDF). Laboratory of Photogrammetry, Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering,.
2. O’Connor, Colin (1993), Roman Bridges, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-39326-4, p. 129f.
3. "Delal bridge (Pera Delal)" (PDF). Kurdistan Regional Government Ministry of Tourism. Retrieved 2009-09-05.

Coordinates: 37°8′10″N 42°41′42″E / 37.13611°N 42.69500°E