Lake Urmia in northwest Iran, as soon as the Middle Easts largest lake, has mostly become a dry salt flat by fall 2023. While it experienced a resurgence in 2020 due to unusual rains, historical patterns show it has been drying considering that 1995, losing nearly 90% of its location.
A couple of years after a fresh increase of water raised its levels, Lake Urmia has actually nearly gone dry.
After quickly growing in volume just a couple of years previously, northwest Irans Lake Urmia almost dried in fall 2023. The biggest lake in the Middle East and among the largest hypersaline lakes on Earth at its greatest degree, Lake Urmia has for the many part changed into a huge, dry salt flat.
Satellite image of Lake Urmia caught by the Operational Land Imager-2 on Landsat 9 on September 7, 2023.
On September 7, 2023, Landsat 9s OLI-2 (Operational Land Imager-2) recorded this image (above) of the desiccated lakebed. It stands in contrast to the image from three years previously (below), gotten by Landsat 8s OLI (Operational Land Imager) on September 8, 2020, when water filled most of the basin and salt deposits were only noticeable around the boundary of the lake.
Satellite image of Lake Urmia caught by the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8 on September 6, 2020.
Historic Trends and Causes of Depletion
The longer-term trend for Urmia has actually been one towards drying. In 1995, Lake Urmia reached a high-water mark; then in the ensuing twenty years, the lake level dropped more than 7 meters (23 feet) and lost approximately 90 percent of its location. Consecutive droughts, agricultural water use, and dam building and construction on rivers feeding the lake have actually contributed to the decrease.
Ecological and Health Implications
A shrinking Lake Urmia has ramifications for eco-friendly and human health. The lake, its islands, and surrounding wetlands consist of valuable environment and are acknowledged as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Ramsar website, and national forest. The location offers reproducing grounds for waterbirds such as flamingos, white pelicans, and white-headed ducks, in addition to a stopover for migratory species. Nevertheless, with low lake levels, what water remains becomes more saline and taxes the populations of brine shrimp and other food sources for larger animals.
A diminishing lake also increases the probability of dust from the exposed lakebed ending up being swept up by winds and degrading air quality. Current research studies have connected the low water levels in Lake Urmia with breathing health effects among the regional population.
Argument on Contributing Factors
The relative impacts of environment, water use, and dams on Lake Urmias water level stays a topic of argument. The lake did see some healing throughout a 10-year restoration program start in 2013.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, utilizing Landsat information from the U.S. Geological Survey.
It stands in contrast to the image from three years previously (listed below), acquired by Landsat 8s OLI (Operational Land Imager) on September 8, 2020, when water filled many of the basin and salt deposits were just noticeable around the boundary of the lake. In 1995, Lake Urmia reached a high-water mark; then in the occurring two decades, the lake level dropped more than 7 meters (23 feet) and lost around 90 percent of its area. A diminishing Lake Urmia has ramifications for environmental and human health. With low lake levels, what water stays becomes more saline and taxes the populations of salt water shrimp and other food sources for bigger animals.
The relative effects of climate, water usage, and dams on Lake Urmias water level stays a subject of debate.