As it is known that civilizations are born near the waters, therefore, the holy city of Karbala which always was characterized with abundant water and fertile agricultural lands, had its notable share of ancient civilizations that have developed it over the course of its blessed history.
Among the flourishing periods of this holy city was the era of "Alexander the Great", who was very interested in developing the irrigation projects in Mesopotamia. So, he reclaimed large areas of land in the marshes of Babylon, built many dams, and reformed a number of ancient streams. It was attributed to him the selection of the current site of "Shatt-el-Hindiah" river, as well as many important projects whose impact has been extended to the present time. (1)
Among the highlights written about that period, is the notes of British engineer "Sir. William Wilcox" as he was the supervisor of Iraq's irrigation works in the early twentieth century, saying that the first urban project made by "Alexander the Great" in Babel province was the "Balacobas" river stream before changing its name to "Al-Hindiah branch", to become today the main course of the Euphrates.
Source
(1) Karbala Civilizational Encyclopedia - Historical Axis, Part III.
