Melting glaciers on summit of Mt. Agri in eastern Turkey cause landslides in region, expert says
The glaciers on Mt. Agri, Turkey’s highest point with an altitude of 5,137 meters (over 16,853 feet),are melting due to the climate change.
A glacier with an area of 10.2 square kilometers (4 square miles) on the summit of the mountain extends from the south to Okuz (ox) Stream in Dogubayazit district of Agri province, and from the north to the Cehennem (Hell) Valley in the Aralik district of Igdir province.
The glacier on the summit of Mt. Agri is of great importance for the region, Oguz Simsek, an associate professor at the Department of Geography in Igdir University, told Anadolu Agency.
Underlining that the largest glacier cover in Turkey is located on Mt. Agri, Simsek said global warming, whose effects have been clearly seen in Turkey recently,has caused the glaciers to melt in early July and August, causing landslides in the region.
Simsek noted the glacial meltdowns occurring especially in Okuz Stream on the south-facing side of Mt. Agri are clearly visible.
Triggered by glacial melt, the wet soil flows down the mountain slopes to the residential areas by picking up morainal material in its path, he added.