On February 10, 2016, it was reported that the salt lake of Poopo, which had once occupied an area of 3,000 square kilometers, disappeared in Bolivia. Exactly the same salty and drainage endangered reservoir Iran has. Lake Urmia, compared with 1984, decreased in size by 70%, and according to the latest data, by 90%.
Once a huge salt lake
Located in the north-west of Iran, Urmia was the largest lake in the Near and Middle East. Ostan is an administrative-territorial unit of Iran. Between East and West Azerbaijan is Lake Urmia. Initially, the reservoir occupied an area of up to 6000 square meters. km
The lake has several names. The famous Arab geographer Istarchi (circa 850-934) designated it as a lake of heretics (Bukhairat al-Shurat), in the collection of sacred texts of the Avesta it is found under the name Chechasht, which translates as “radiant white” and “deep lake with salt waters. " For centuries, it was called the Salt Lake, and also Kabunat, Shahi, Tala, Rezaye.
Some options
The altitude at which Lake Urmia is located is 1275 meters. It had an elongated shape and stretched from north to south to a distance of 140 km, while the width ranged from 40 to 55 km. But this was earlier, and now the lake is on the verge of extinction. Widely available are comparative photographs from satellites showing how the reservoir was chalking from 1984 to 2014. And in ancient times, 16 meters reached the maximum depth.
Lake Urmia did not belong to shallow natural reservoirs: the average figure in the best years was 5 meters. A piece of land from which all the waters flow into a specific body of water is called the catchment area. Previously, Lake Urmia had a catchment area, the territory of which was 50 thousand square kilometers. The reservoir was replenished in the winter and spring months due to precipitation. The largest tributaries are considered in the south Jagatu and Tatava, in the northeast - Aji Chai.
The main salts rich in water, sodium and chlorine, as well as sulfates (salts of sulfuric acid).
The islands
Initially, there were 102 islands on the lake, many of which were sites for the wintering of migratory birds. Some of them were covered with pistachio forests. In the lower southern part of the lake there was a cluster of 50 small islands.
There are also inhabited islands on the lake, for example, Islam, at the highest peak of which is the Khulagu-Khan monastery (tomb of the Mongol khans). Kabudan and Espir, Ashk and Arezu also belong to residential areas where Iranian yellow deer are bred. The island of Kayun Dagi is famous for its rare world of flora. In addition, in addition to goats, leopards live on it.
Flora and fauna
If there are inhabited islands on the lake, then there is a communication between them. The pond is navigable year-round, as it does not freeze. Its banks are covered with salt marshes, only at the mouths of the flowing rivers are there swamps with thickets of common reed and chythorn (a large genus of flowering plants).
Lake Urmia (photo can be seen in the article) refers to the pink lakes of the earth. In this color, salt lakes stain colony of Artemia crustaceans, which are very numerous in hypersaline Urmia. At first, the concentration of salt in the lake water was critical 350 grams per 1 liter of water, while 180 grams were always considered the norm for Urmia. In such a reservoir, of course, there is no fish. The animal world is represented by flamingos, pelicans and pegans that nest on the lake.
Cities related to the lake
Due to the uniqueness of Urmia, in 1967 a national park was created, which included most of the reservoir. Due to its extraordinary ecosystem, UNESCO recognized the reservoir as a repository of the biosphere. Directly at the water's edge, there are no settlements on the salt marshes. They are in the immediate vicinity. So, for example, on the west bank there is a city of the same name, which is the administrative center of the West Azerbaijan. The capital of East Azerbaijan, the third largest city of Iran with a 4000-year history and one and a half million people is Tabriz. These are the largest settlements in the vicinity of the lake, they are connected by a highway laid along the dam that divided the lake into two parts.
Causes of shallowing
In all the surrounding areas, more than 14 million people live who need a large amount of water.
This is one of the reasons for the shallowing of Urmia. The dam built in 2008, connecting East and West Azerbaijan, did not contribute to improving the ecology of the lake, as well as the dams that blocked the river flows. The current depth of Lake Urmia in some places is very small. Contributes to shallowing and drought, which began in 1998.
Ahead of the disaster
According to experts, in the event of the final disappearance of the lake instead of it there will be more than 10 billion tons of salt and not a single resident, since all of them will be forced to leave their native lands. An alarm raised by scientists around the world who proved that in the event of inaction already in 2018 there will be swamps on the site of the lake, was heard. Although back in 2011, activists who fought to save the lake were imprisoned. Why? Because the water taken from this reservoir is necessary for watering the fields. Thus, the government chose the lesser of two evils.
Rescue plans
The work to save the reservoir began in 2012, when the consent of Armenia was received to transfer part of the waters of this republic to Urmia. To ensure that the Iranian pond does not disappear completely, bearing in mind the sad fate of the Aral Sea, scientists from several countries have developed a strategy to save the lake. There are several plans, and most of them nevertheless provide for the reduction of water intake from the lake and its rivers for agricultural purposes. But recently, great hopes are associated with the waters of the Caspian Sea.
If the project, which was worked on by 500 academics and 50 experts from countries of all continents (these experts already had sufficient experience gained in the development of the Aral Sea revival), is calculated correctly and will be implemented, a full restoration of the volume of water in the lake can be expected by 2023.
Favorite Lake
The local population is very fond of their pond. Firstly, the water in it is dense, warm and healing - it is very pleasant to swim in it. Secondly, small salt islands (Osman’s Fist), which have taken an unusual shape, are unique; coastal lighting is very peculiar due to salt scattering the sun's rays. Thanks to all this, the landscapes surrounding Lake Urmia are very beautiful and unique. The description with the photos given above demonstrate this stern and calm beauty. On the shore you can find a variety of crystals of various sizes and shapes - people come in families to wander along the shore of their favorite reservoir.
Serious approach
Of course, Lake Urmia is extremely alarming: unnecessary longboats standing in the middle of a white desert and corroded by salt, abandoned houses on the coast that used to be here, dried up trees. Therefore, the scientists of the world are working to prevent another environmental catastrophe and return the world to endangered beauty. The Iranian government, together with the UN Development Program, intends to invest $ 1.3 billion in the resurrection of the lake. Money will be directed not only to transfer water from other sources (for example, the Araz River), but also to increase the efficiency of spending liquid taken from the lake for agricultural needs. The package consists of 25 offers, in which everything is detailed to the smallest detail.
Bright landmark of Iran
I must say that even now, when this largest Iranian reservoir is in such a deplorable state, there are a lot of objects worthy of attention.
Lake Urmia is located near Ararat, in the south of the
Armenian Highlands. You can get to him as follows. There is an airport in Tabriz; Urmia and other Iranian cities are connected by beautiful roads. You can get from the two cities directly to the lake by regular bus or take a taxi.