Evidence of the formation of landslide-dammed lakes in the Zagros Mountains range, Iran

Alternation of high and low resistance sedimentary beds, active tectonics, large rivers, and slope erosion in valleys consequently resulted in landslide in dammed lakes within the Zagros range. This study presents the results in the analysis of geological and topographic data, satellite imageries, morphotectonics and hydrodynamics of drainage networks about the landslide dammed lakes. There are four landslides in central Zagros (Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt, ZFTB) which have formed five dammed lakes named, Seymareh, Jāidār, Shūr, Shīmbār, and Godār. According to the results, damming landslides occurred in the active-tectonic regions on the slopes of anticlines and in valleys with undercutting effects of rivers on their slopes consisting of alternations of loose and resistant beds. The studied landslide dams in narrow valleys are formed as a result of blocking river by sliding debris slopes and rock slides. This study also indicates the formation of Jāidār and Godār in one stage and the presence of Lake Terrace sequence in Seymareh, Shūr and Shīmbār lakes. The observed sequences of terrace formation in these lakes are caused by four Seymareh Landslides followed by the three-stage excavation of Shūr and Shīmbār lakes.