Cyrus the Great's mausoleum in Iran cracking up due to high level of humidity

London, June 18 : Cracks have started to appear on the stonework of the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great in the archaeological site of Pasargadae in Iran, thanks to an all time high level of humidity.

According to Amir-Teimur Khosravi the Mayor of Pasargadae, "The level of humidity near the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great is so high that none of the Pasargadae's residents have ever experienced it before."

There is constant flow of damp and humidity smells to the Pasargadae plains coming from Bolaghi Valley, said the Mayor.

In the Southwest section of the mausoleum, which is considered the entrance to the archaeological site, the subterranean waters have surfaced and caused crakes to appear on the stonework, he added.

"Pasargadae has always been renowned for its clean and pleasant weather, but now as the result of high levels of humidity produced from (the artificial lake behind) the Sivand dam, the area suffers from a sultry condition," said Khosravi.

Khosravi has warned that the subterranean waters have filled the Pasargadae's terraces and in some sections water has even been surfaced.

The hygrometer installed near the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great also confirms the high level of humidity in the area.

The perimeters of the artificial lake behind the Sivand dam at its largest reach are 7 kilometres from Pasargadae site, 9 kilometres from the mausoleum of the Cyrus the Great and nearly 70 kilometres from Persepolis.

Experts have warned that if the humidity level continues to raise in the area, the damages to the ancient site will become irreversible.

Therefore, the only solution is to decommission the dam immediately and dry the artificial lake formed behind the Sivand Dam.

ANI