The influence of karst features on environmental studies in Turkey |
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| Authors: | H Elhatip |
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| Institution: | (1) Hydrogeological Engineering, Dept., Faculty of Earth Sciences, Hacettepe University, 06532 Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey, TR |
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| Abstract: | The carbonate rocks of Turkey, which underlie about one third of the country, possess major water resources with great potential
for electricity generation and water supplies. The ongoing development of karst features, especially in the southern part
of Turkey, demonstrates specific environmental problems that occur in many karst water supply projects. Karst aquifers, springs,
sinkholes, dolines, poljes and other karst features are of great importance from the standpoint of karst water resources and
environmental research studies. In karst regions, conservation and protection of groundwater resources for both qualitative
and quantitative evaluations is possible only when the catchment area is determined accurately. Since the catchment area in
karst terrains is not limited by the surface drainage boundaries and the groundwater flows through well-developed coduits
or fissures, the equations used in non-karstic areas cannot be applied to such karstic regions. Studies on the development
of karst features and its environmental impacts in Turkey are of recent origin. Therefore, many unreliable methods are being
applied in karstic areas. For example, the use of "shallow holes or sinkholes and fault zones" for septic water waste disposal
or as sewage by those who are not familiar with karst, sometimes causes very serious problems of extensive groundwater pollution.
This paper discusses the development of different karstic features in Turkey and case studies on its environmental impacts.
Received: 27 December 1995 · Accepted: 10 July 1996 |
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| Keywords: | Karst features Environments Water resources Protection |
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