With a depth of up to 60 metres and an even larger circumference. Jordhullerne above might at first glance look like the crater from a missile or meteor strike. The explanation is, however, a different and quite depressing.

Udhulingerne of the earth is indeed the result of a year-long, exaggerated vandpumpning in Iran.

Between 2003 and 2007 sinking of the water level in several places with excess of 25 centimeters per year, say researchers from the research center for geosciences in Potsdam. It writes the news agency AP.

It is according to the researchers the first time they have been able to with detailed and precise measurements to track the attenuation in the region over a longer period of time.

The iranian authorities say they have measured a decrease of up to 42 inches annually in the southern part of the country and up to 22 centimeters near the capital, Tehran. Far more than the normal two to three centimeters per year.

The violent fall may, according to the experts have a big impact and result in tragic incidents in densely populated areas, where there is a need for water for daily use.

– the top-soil contains water and air. When you pumps water up from the ground, it forms a vacuum. The pressure from above will gradually press jordpartiklerne together, which in the end produces cracks and causes the ground to sink, explains Siavash Arabi, there is the so-called målingsekspert of Iran’s cartographic department.

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Iran, which has a population of over 80 million, is heavily dependent on their agriculture. But poor management of water resources and old-fashioned farming methods have led to excess water in the day is used to flush the crops with.

‘Jordsænkning’ is a destructive phenomenon, and its impact may not be immediately felt like an earthquake, but as you can see, it can gradually cause devastating changes over time, says Siavash Arabi.

– I can mention the destruction of agricultural land, the cracks in the ground surface, damage to civilian areas in cities, spildevandsledninger, roads, water and naturgasrør.

About 97 percent of the country have experienced some degree of drainage in recent years, illuminates the country’s meteorological organization.