Giant sinkholes are forming in Turkey due to overexploitation of groundwater

In Türkiye, intensive agriculture causes land collapse. Giant sinkholes are forming in Turkey due to overexploitation of groundwater for irrigation, sparking growing concerns among residents of the Central Anatolia region. On September 14, a huge crater, measuring 50 meters wide and 40 meters deep, appeared on a farmer's land in Konya Karapınar, Turkey. This gaping hole, called a “sinkhole”, is unfortunately not an isolated case in the region. According to the Sinkhole Research Center at Konya Technical University, their number is constantly increasing. In 2021, 2,550 sinkholes were recorded, compared to only 299 in 2017. The main cause of this proliferation of craters is intensive agriculture. Originally, these sinkholes were formed naturally by the erosion of limestone in karst regions. When water seeps into the ground, it creates underground cavities. Over time, the ground surface above these caves collapses under its own weight. However, in recent years, new sinkholes are the ...