The Relation Between Karst Terrains and Rising of Groundwater Level in the Vicinity of Hadith Dam Area-Iraq

This work aims to study the karst terrains in Hadith area. According to geological studies in the area, the carbonate rocks related to the Miocene age and characterized by enrichment with evaporates which more easily dissolved by groundwater. The features of karst topography are including many types such as sinkholes, cavities, and karst springs. After 1986 the construction of Hadith Dam on Euphrates River, the groundwater level in the surrounding area rose gradually and caused increasing in dissolving of the carbonate rocks, which lead to form karst features in the area. In addition to the change of groundwater level, the flow direction also changed in both sides of the Euphrates River which lead to enlarged the collapse of rock and caves and forming karst valley from coalescing sinkholes.