The Story Behind Hit’s Iron Bridge

Along the banks of Iraq’s Euphrates River, in the Al-Anbar Governorate, lies the Burj al-Hadid, also known as the Heet Iron Bridge. 

Its steel framework may hint at modern engineering, however, the Burj al-Hadid connects a place that has been central to civilisation since the time of the ancient Babylonians. The bridge adds another layer to this town’s legacy, as Heet is already famed for its natural bitumen springs, which have been used in Mesopotamian construction for thousands of years. 

Local people, from schoolchildren, to farmers and vendors, use this bridge daily to cross the Euphrates. 

The architectural origins of Burj al-Hadid remain elusive, however the cultural resonance of the Heet Iron Bridge is unmistakable.

The bridge continues to stand proudly in a region rich with history and resilience.