"Tharthar Canal" and "Tharthar" redirect here. For the wife of Stilgar in the book by Frank Herbert, see Dune (novel).
Lake Tharthar (also Therthar), and known in Iraq as Buhayrat ath-Tharthar (Arabic: بحيرة الثرثار), is an artificial lake created in 1956,[2] situated 100 kilometers (62 mi) northwest of Baghdad between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers.
In 1956, the southern part of the Tharthar depression was turned into an artificial reservoir to collect floodwaters of the Tigris River. The water flows via an artificial inlet canal, named Tharthar Canal. The canal diverts the excess water, by means of a regulator Samarra Barrage. It merges with the lake in its southeastern bank.
The lake has an artificial outlet called Taksim Tharthar Canal, which drains to the Euphrates River directly. The canal, after 28 km (17.4 mi) from its outlet, bifurcates to another canal called "Dhira'a Dijla" (arm of tigris) that returns water back to the Tigris River.
Lake Tharthar was the site of a raid in 2005 against an insurgent training base in the region.
Descriptionedit
The Tharthar depression was formed during the Holocene age, mainly by karstification, due to dissolving of gypsum rocks of the Fatha (nearby area) Formation.[2] Tharthar covers roughly 2,050 km2 (790 sq mi), flows from the central and eastern parts of the Sinjar Mountains and adjacent hills, with a floor of –3 m, above the sea level. The maximum length and width of the depression are 120 and 48 km, respectively. The eastern rim of the depression is higher than the western one, the heights of both rims are 90 metres (300 ft) and 75 metres (246 ft), respectively.
The main purpose of the Tharthar Lake is to collect excess water of the Tigris River during flood seasons and to recharge water to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers during dry seasons, when there is shortage of water in both rivers. Moreover, it aims to wash out the salts from the stored water in the lake by means of natural continuous draining of the stored water.[2]
Flora and faunaedit
Tharthar lake and the surrounding areas are considered one of the most important grazing areas in Iraq, including the wide wheat and corn fields covering the area. The area harbors many species of animals and vegetation.
Tharthar lake and the surrounding area contains about 38 species of plants. Four main habitat types observed within the Al-Tharthar Lake and Al Dhebaeji Field area:
lake, tharthar, tharthar, canal, tharthar, redirect, here, wife, stilgar, book, frank, herbert, dune, novel, also, therthar, known, iraq, buhayrat, tharthar, arabic, بحيرة, الثرثار, artificial, lake, created, 1956, situated, kilometers, northwest, baghdad, bet. Tharthar Canal and Tharthar redirect here For the wife of Stilgar in the book by Frank Herbert see Dune novel Lake Tharthar also Therthar and known in Iraq as Buhayrat ath Tharthar Arabic بحيرة الثرثار is an artificial lake created in 1956 2 situated 100 kilometers 62 mi northwest of Baghdad between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers Lake ThartharLandsat 5 1990 Lake ThartharLocation of Tharthar lakeLocationAl Anbar ProvinceCoordinates33 58 N 43 11 E 33 967 N 43 183 E 33 967 43 183Primary inflowsTharthar CanalPrimary outflowsTaksim Tharthar CanalBasin countriesIraqMax length120 kilometres 75 mi Max width48 kilometres 30 mi Surface area2 710 km2 1 050 sq mi 1 Average depth40 m 130 ft to 65 m 213 ft 1 Water volume35 18 km3 8 44 cu mi to 85 59 km3 20 53 cu mi 1 Surface elevation3 metres 9 8 ft References 1 2 Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 Flora and fauna 3 1 Birds 3 2 Mammals 3 3 Reptiles 3 4 Fish 3 5 Plants 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editIn 1956 the southern part of the Tharthar depression was turned into an artificial reservoir to collect floodwaters of the Tigris River The water flows via an artificial inlet canal named Tharthar Canal The canal diverts the excess water by means of a regulator Samarra Barrage It merges with the lake in its southeastern bank The lake has an artificial outlet called Taksim Tharthar Canal which drains to the Euphrates River directly The canal after 28 km 17 4 mi from its outlet bifurcates to another canal called Dhira a Dijla arm of tigris that returns water back to the Tigris River Lake Tharthar was the site of a raid in 2005 against an insurgent training base in the region Description editThe Tharthar depression was formed during the Holocene age mainly by karstification due to dissolving of gypsum rocks of the Fatha nearby area Formation 2 Tharthar covers roughly 2 050 km2 790 sq mi flows from the central and eastern parts of the Sinjar Mountains and adjacent hills with a floor of 3 m above the sea level The maximum length and width of the depression are 120 and 48 km respectively The eastern rim of the depression is higher than the western one the heights of both rims are 90 metres 300 ft and 75 metres 246 ft respectively The main purpose of the Tharthar Lake is to collect excess water of the Tigris River during flood seasons and to recharge water to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers during dry seasons when there is shortage of water in both rivers Moreover it aims to wash out the salts from the stored water in the lake by means of natural continuous draining of the stored water 2 Flora and fauna editTharthar lake and the surrounding areas are considered one of the most important grazing areas in Iraq including the wide wheat and corn fields covering the area The area harbors many species of animals and vegetation Birds edit Tharthar lake is considered the main wintering grounds for many threatened species of migrant birds such as saker falcon MacQueen s bustard and sociable lapwing 54 bird species were seen in Tharthar lake including pallid harrier European roller and black tailed godwit all near threatened were recorded on passage and the endemic race of hooded crow Corvus cornix capellanus was present Mammals edit Golden jackals have been observed regularly at the site Striped hyenas and caracals were reported by local people near the lake edge Reptiles edit Many species of reptiles have been observed such as Turkish gecko and Egyptian spiny tailed lizard Fish edit Ten fish species have been found in the lake including Aspius vorax yellowfin barbel B luteus B sharpeyi goldfish Cyprnion kais common carp Silurus triostegus Chondrostoma regium and Liza abu Plants edit Tharthar lake and the surrounding area contains about 38 species of plants Four main habitat types observed within the Al Tharthar Lake and Al Dhebaeji Field area Inland standing water aquatic communities rooted submerged vegetation characterized by Vallisneria spiralis Potamogeton crispus and Potamogeton perfoliatus Flooded communities periodically or occasionally flooded land dominated by Cyperus sp Rumex dentatus Polygonum argyrocoleon Polygonum sp and Bacopa monnieri Marsh vegetation helophytic vegetation reedbeds characterized by Phragmites australis Terrestrial vegetation desert shrub characterized by Tamarix sp Alhagi maurorum Atraplex leucoclada and Cornulaca aucheri 3 See also editLake Habbaniyah Lake Milh Lake Qadisiyah Mosul Dam List of dams and reservoirs in Iraq Wildlife of IraqReferences edit a b c d Lake Tharthar Archived 2008 05 06 at the Wayback Machine Arabic Republic of Iraq Ministry of Water Resources a b c d GENESIS AND AGE ESTIMATION OF THE THARTHAR DEPRESSION CENTRAL WEST IRAQ Al Tharthar Lake and All Dhebaeji Fields SD2 KBA XXX PDF External links edit nbsp Media related to Lake Tharthar at Wikimedia Commons Portal nbsp Iraq Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lake Tharthar amp oldid 1171248016, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
