However, they shrank to just 760 square kilometres during the 1980s, after Saddam ordered the damming of the rivers that sustained the marshes in an attempt to drive out rebels.

• 然而，上世纪80年代，湿地面积缩小到760平方公里，因为萨达姆命令在支撑湿地的河流上进行拦河修坝以驱逐叛乱分子。