Iran: Climate Change Threatens Already Volatile Urmia Lake
Climate change is likely to worsen the situation of the largely drought-stricken hypersaline Urmia Lake in Iran. Even in the most optimistic climate change scenario and without any further human impact. This is shown by Wageningen University researchers in a study published by the Science of The Total Environment journal on 15 April.
The Urmia Lake used to be the second largest hypersaline lake in the world. The lake, located in the North-West of Iran near the Turkish border, is an important, internationally recognized natural area designated as a RAMSAR site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is a home to many species, among which a unique species of brine shrimp. Urmia basin supports a variety of agricultural production systems and activities as well as livestock.
NASA