Harvesting snow on Karokh Mountain
Rawanduz herders use snow pits to secure water supply for summer months
RAWANDUZ — On Karokh Mountain, herders have been preparing for summer by packing away snow in traditional storage pits, locally known as “chala bafr” or snow wells, to ensure a sustainable water source for their livestock during the dry summer months.
Located in Rawanduz, Karokh Mountain is renowned for its magestic landscape and its peak, which stands at 2,650 meters above sea level, between the Rawanduz River and Shawre Valley.
In the early weeks of spring, Garawan village residents cover the wells with tarps or tents to prevent the snow from melting under the sun’s rays.
“This year, the snowfall has been ample, making our efforts easier compared to previous years,” said Abdulrahman Garawayi, a local herder. He recently secured a well filled over 15 meters deep with densely packed snow.
The process involves two primary techniques: one where a well is directly covered tarps after heavy snowfall, and another where snow from surrounding areas is gathered into a well, which is then covered.
Traditionally done with native vegetation, the practice has evolved to using tents to better shield the snow from sunlight.
Herders start their day early, with several people involved in the digging and transporting of the insulated snow to water troughs where animals can drink. It is a community effort, right from breaking the hard-packed snow to transporting it to watering holes.
The snow wells not only provide essential drinking water for the animals in summer but are also a resource for the herders’ own consumption.