22,000 Subterranean Canals Dried Up in Past 50 Years
October 31, 2000 - 0:0
TEHRAN A researcher and professor at Tehran University, Mohammad Hossein Papoli, said that 22,000 subterranean canals (connected wells) have dried up in Iran in the past 50 years.
He said that drought, digging deep wells, and an unbridled use of water are the reasons for the canals drying up.
Papoli said that at present, out of 18,000 canals in the country, from two to 250 liters of water are drawn every second.
He added that there are 40,000 canals in the country, including the dried up ones, of which two canals in Gonabad and Isfahan, respectively called Qasabeh and Maymeh, are unique in the world.
He said Qasabeh Canal is significant on account of its depth, unceasing water, age and length, and Maymeh Canal for the existence of an underground dam.
Qasabeh and Maymeh canals are, respectively, 2,500 and 2,000 years old.
He said that drought, digging deep wells, and an unbridled use of water are the reasons for the canals drying up.
Papoli said that at present, out of 18,000 canals in the country, from two to 250 liters of water are drawn every second.
He added that there are 40,000 canals in the country, including the dried up ones, of which two canals in Gonabad and Isfahan, respectively called Qasabeh and Maymeh, are unique in the world.
He said Qasabeh Canal is significant on account of its depth, unceasing water, age and length, and Maymeh Canal for the existence of an underground dam.
Qasabeh and Maymeh canals are, respectively, 2,500 and 2,000 years old.