The Matkh is a marshland depression in northwestern Syria into which flows the Quweiq River. Its northern prong is about 25 kilometers (16 mi) southwest of Aleppo.
Geography edit
The Matkh is an irregular-shaped, marshy depression which extends 28 kilometers (17 mi) north-south and about 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) east-west.[1][2] The city of Aleppo is located about 25 kilometers (16 mi) northeast from the Matkh's northern tip.[3] The waters of the Quweiq River flow into the Matkh from the north.[2] The depression makes up the center of the southern part of the Quweiq basin (also called the Aleppo basin).[2] The Quweiq forms the marshes of the Matkh along with the rain-dependent seasonal streams of Wadi Luf, Wadi Abu Hashshish, Wadi al-Awal and Wadi al-Mazrwi, all of which connect in the depression.[2]
Groundwater levels in the Matkh range between 15–35 meters (49–115 ft).[4] Gray-brown alluvial soil characterize the Matkh, in contrast to the reddish clay soils of the limestone plateau adjacent to the west and the pale, grayish brown soil which characterize the desert steppe east of the depression.[4]
History edit
References edit
- ^ Mantellini, Micale & Peyronel 2016, p. 39.
- ^ a b c d Peyronel 2014, p. 115.
- ^ Peyronel 2014, p. 131, note 74.
- ^ a b Peyronel 2014, p. 116.
Bibliography edit
- Peyronel, Luca (2014). "Living Near the Lake. The Matkh Region (Syria) during the Early and Middle Bronze Ages". In Baffi, Francesca; Fiorentino, Roberto; Peyronel, Luca (eds.). Tell Tuqan Excavation and Regional Perspectives: Cultural Developments in Inner Syria from the Early Bronze Age to the Persian/Hellenistic Period: Proceedings of the International Conference May 15th-17th 2013. Lecce: Congedo Editore.