Iran Sinking as Groundwater Resources Disappear
Science • September 2008 • Views: 444
WOW - Iran Sinking as Groundwater Resources Disappear
Iran’s insatiable demand for water, which is being drawn out of aquifers far faster than it can be replenished, is causing large chunks of farmland to sink and buildings to crack, according to a new study.
Estimates suggest the water levels in Iranian aquifers have declined by an average of nearly 1.5 feet (half a meter) every year over the last 15 years.
As the water is removed, soil and rock lose their support, leading to compaction and sinking.