Al-naoor is a traditional water wheel made of wood that revolves around its axis. It is used in Iraq to control water levels on streams flowing from the Euphrates River, which are lower than the nearby fields.
In contrast to waterwheels found in watermills, norias do not supply mechanical power to any other process. This is also because many historical norias were hybrids, consisting of water wheels that were assisted by animals. A noria has been known to feed seawater into a saltern around 200 B.C. on the Euphrates River, to irrigate even when the river's levels receded. Through this great invention, agricultural prosperity was achieved in the Fertile Crescent.
The community invented the al-naoor wheel to raise river water to the fields. The wheel is formed of twenty-four wooden sticks, each topped with a clay jug, and roped around the outer circumference with palm leaves. It is usually eight to twelve meters in diameter, and is placed vertically between two stone pedestals on the side of the river.
While the current forces the wheel to rotate, the water collected from the river flows into the jugs on top of the wheel. This is then poured into the waterways leading to the fields. As well as being a source of livelihood for many artisans involved in its construction, Al-naoor is also a source of income for artisan carpenters, potters, and builders.
The day of the al-naoor's mounting is marked by many celebrations, including poetry performances, singing, and dancing. More recently, the energy produced by the al-naoor wheel has also been used to generate electricity and grind flour in the watermills. Al-naoor provides a source of livelihood for many, including the artisan carpenters, pottery makers, and builders involved in its construction.