When 90% of the lake’s water disappears, boats, farms, and hotels are left stranded on the dry lakebed.
The Devastation of a Once Thriving Port
In northwest Iran, on a dried and salinized lakebed, visitors are greeted by an apocalyptic sight. Near a port town, an abandoned ship is trapped on a dock with nowhere to go. Rows of swan-shaped pedal boats are quietly parked on the white, salt-covered lakebed. This was once the largest lake in the Middle East and the sixth largest salt lake in the world. Now, its water has severely diminished.
The lake in the area of Sharafkhaneh port, once full of waves, is a desolate place now. This photograph, taken in 2018, shows the dry and salt-crusted shores, once a popular tourist destination. The impressive building in the background, known as “Tal,” was once used for repairing boats in the water. A photo taken in 1992 at the same location shows how drastically things have changed. 
Urmia Lake – A Symbol of Identity
Urmia Lake (also spelled Oromieh) is located between the West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan provinces of Iran, surrounded by rugged red mountains. The nearby city of Urmia shares its name with the lake. Nearly 6 million people living in the Urmia Basin are deeply connected to this shrinking body of water. The Turkmen-Azerbaijani people living around the lake consider it a symbol of their identity, referring to it as the “Turquoise of Azerbaijan.”
Just a few years ago, Urmia Lake was a thriving tourist hotspot. A local hotel hosted dozens of visitors daily, while swimmers soaked in the salty water and covered themselves in its famous black mud. However, as Urmia Lake dried up, the local tourism and agricultural industries suffered. The sounds of waves, the hustle and bustle of beachgoers, the sulfuric smell of black mud, and the salty breeze of the afternoon have all become memories of the past. The port town has turned into a sparsely populated village, with many young people moving to nearby cities, leaving behind mostly elderly residents. Both the town and the salt lake are no longer what they once were.
The Disappearance of Ajichay River and its Impact on the Lake
In 2019, the Ajichay River, which once flowed into Urmia Lake, nearly disappeared. In Tabriz, the river passes beneath an ancient bridge before eventually feeding into the lake. Due to prolonged drought, the flow of the river has drastically diminished.
A Vital Habitat Lost
At its peak, the lake was the largest natural habitat for brine shrimp, creatures adapted to the saline environment. It was also an important stopover point for migratory birds like flamingos and pelicans. Despite still being designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the lake has lost about 88% of its surface area over the past three decades. A recent study highlights that rising temperatures and climate change have accelerated the drying of the lake, along with the rapid development of agriculture in the region.
The drying of Urmia Lake is a result of several factors working together. Firstly, climate change has caused temperatures to rise, increasing evaporation and accelerating the loss of water. At the same time, reduced rainfall in recent years has resulted in insufficient water replenishment for the lake. Furthermore, expanding agricultural activities have led to excessive water use, especially for irrigation, which has put immense pressure on the lake’s water levels. Irresponsible water resource management and overexploitation have further exacerbated the drying. Additionally, dams built in the lake’s basin have reduced the inflow of water. These combined factors have led to a dramatic reduction in the lake’s surface area, creating a severe environmental issue.
Efforts for Restoration and Hope for the Future
In 2015, a resident walks along the pier of Sharafkhaneh port, still living there today. Fifteen years ago, when the lake’s water had not receded drastically, her family would gather by the lake on weekends for dinner.
In 2015, a man who used to run a small motel by the lake earned a living by renting rooms and pedal boats to tourists. Now, the motel and pedal boats have been unused for years.
The severe environmental disaster eventually caught the attention of the Iranian government. They established the National Lake Restoration Committee and plan to invest $5 billion over ten years. In the last two years, rainfall above the average levels has significantly turned the situation around. Experts suggest that restoring the lake to its former glory may take decades, but these improvements have brought hope to the people living around the lake.
The salt and mineral-rich mud of Urmia Lake are said to have therapeutic properties, especially for skin diseases and rheumatism. A photo taken in 2017 shows a girl playing in the remaining high-salinity waters of the lake, with the soil rich in minerals such as iodine and iron.
Farmers Adjust to New Realities
Farmer Rahmani points to the nearby lake, saying he has lived by the lake his whole life. From his house on the mountain, he used to watch the sunset glisten on the water’s surface. He never imagined the lake would turn into a salt and alkaline desert. Rahmani was one of the first farmers to sign up for a sustainable agriculture project. He says that as water levels dropped, the cost of irrigating farmland increased, so they had to change their old farming practices. Most farmers in the area have switched to sprinkler irrigation systems and altered their crop patterns, growing wheat one year and pumpkins the next.
Hamzeh, a boat used for ferrying people across the lake, now lies stranded. The once largest salt lake in the world has suffered a significant decrease in water levels. This photograph, taken in 2016, shows the now abandoned boat.
Despite the lake’s dramatic shrinking, there have been some signs of recovery in recent years, as visitors once again come to see Urmia Lake. The lake’s disappearance is not only an environmental crisis but also an emotional loss for the people who grew up with it. For them, the lake is not just a shrinking blue dot on the map; it’s an essential part of their identity, and they sincerely hope the lake will not disappear forever.
