Development of Gulley Ali Beg Gorge in Rawandooz Area, Northern Iraq

Abstract

The northern and northeastern parts of the Iraqi exhibit different types of gorges. Some of them are few kilometers in length and few hundred meters in height. The most significant gorge is the Gulley Ali Bed gorge in Rawandooz area; its length is about 12.1 Km, with maximum and minimum widths of 100 to 155 m, respectively. The water in the gorge flows in two opposite directions, from the north and south through two streams; they meet in the middle of the gorge, and then change the streams direction towards west; for few kilometers before it merges in the Greater Zab River. The gorge runs within very hard thickly bedded to massive carbonate rocks, which belong to Sarmord, Qamchuqa and Bekhme formations (Cretaceous in age). To the right of the southern entrance; stands Korak anticline, whereas to the left occurs Peris anticline. To the right of the northern entrance; stands Handreen anticline, whereas to the left is Bradost anticline; represented by Balikian Mountain. The gorge is developed by continuous lateral and vertical growth of the four mentioned anticlines, with continuous incision of both streams, Rawandooz from the north and Khlaifan from the south. Both shifted their courses, continuously as indicated from the presence of many wind gaps in the aforementioned anticlines.