Page 24 - BBC Focus Earth From Above - 2017 UK

SA U D I A R A B I A

Crop circles

Centre-pivot irrigation has
transformed arid desert into
circular fields of wheat, near the
city of Ha’il in Saudi Arabia. But
this system is unlikely to last. The
underground aquifer that supplies
water to these crops has been
drained by as much as 80 per cent
over the last few decades and,
with less than 20cm of rain a
year, the aquifer is unlikely to be
replenished anytime soon.
PHOTO: GETTY/DIGITAL GLOBE
SAUDI
ARABIA
Ha’il

SAUDI
ARABIA