THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATIC AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL PROCESSES ON LANDFORM DEVELOPMENT IN SAWA LAKE / IRAQ

Sawa Lake is a unique, ecologically important, closed-basin lake located in the Muthanna governorate of southern Iraq, in the arid zone of the Mesopotamian region. It is characterized by the absence of apparent inlets or outlets and maintains a relatively stable water level through underground artesian spirals and outflow. Sawa Lake has a distinctive mi lieu with high saline and alkaline levels, unlike any other in the region, which supports specialized microbial life. The study focused on the significant and unique natural topography characteristics of Sawa Lake, located in Muthanna Governorate, approximately 25 km from the center of Samawah District, with an area of 5.5 km². The lake is distinguished by the density and salinity of its water, which surpasses that of seawater. The study indicated that the lake is distinguished by a variety of landforms created through geomorphic processes, including mechanical and chemical weathering, influenced by groundwater that has impacted the predominant limestone and gypsum rocks in its geological formations. These rocks are susceptible to decomposition and dissolution, resulting in a variety of geomorphological features both within and surrounding the lake. The lake is encircled by saline limestone cliffs interspersed with other topographic elements that slope towards the lake's cente r, such as cracks or springs that supply water to the lake. The lake's water level fluctuates between wet and dry seasons due to climatic variations that occur annually, influenced by the prevailing arid conditions of the region. Additionally, the lake is currently experiencing desiccation due to the diminishing water levels of subterranean reservoirs, such as the Dammam and Euphrates Reservoirs, which supply the lake from significant depths, and this is exacerbated by the proliferation of groundwater wells in the desert.