Syria is home to the ancient city of Hama, known for its giant wooden water wheels.
Hama stands on the Orontes River in western Syria. Its famous norias are large wooden wheels designed to lift river water into aqueducts, allowing water to reach gardens and fields above the riverbank.
The wheels were built and repaired over many centuries. Some are very large, including the Noria al-Muhammadiya, which is commonly described as one of the world’s largest water wheels. Their creaking sound became a distinctive feature of Hama’s cityscape.
Norias were practical hydraulic machines rather than mills powered by water. The river’s current turned the wheel, and attached compartments or scoops raised water as the wheel rotated. Hama also has archaeological importance, with evidence of settlement reaching back to ancient periods.