Hammam Meskoutine hydro-thermal cascade subsidence (North-East Algeria): Causes and effects on the landscape

Abdelwaheb, Benamara; Sihem, Hedjal; Amar, Chidouh

المجلة الجزائرية للعلوم
Volume 5, Numéro 10, Pages 19-23
2020-06-03

Hammam Meskoutine Hydro-thermal Cascade Subsidence (north-east Algeria): Causes And Effects On The Landscape

Authors : Abdelwaheb Benamara . Sihem Hedjal . Amar Chidouh .

Abstract

The outlets of thermo-mineral water spread large quantities of minerals. Their deposits may form attractive natural cascades however, some events (natural or anthropogenic), degrade the appearance of these wonders, and contribute to the destruction of parts of these natural landscapes. Within this context, the focus of this paper is in the Hammam Meskoutine cascade, whose temperature and water mineralization are high, reaching 90° and 1400 mg/l respectively. The north-eastern part of the cascade has crumbled and collapsed which directed our research towards soil studies. Thus, the hydration-dehydration phenomena of the outcropping clay formations cause differential movements manifested by disintegration of infrastructures. For this reason, tests on samples taken from stable rock and degraded rock show that changes in the physical properties of the soil can lead to partial movement of earth, causing damage to buildings. This aspect is linked to climate change and influenced by external phenomena such as sunlight, humidity, and human activity.