Lake Urmia

  • Latest situation of Lake Urmia

    Latest situation of Lake Urmia

    Lake Urmia, one of the world’s largest salt lakes located in northwest Iran, has been drying up over the past years. The water lever of the lake has reached its lowest point ever recorded, despite efforts including transferring water to the lake and reducing water extraction from underground resources.

  • 'Japan to cooperate with Iran on restoration of Lake Urmia'

    'Japan to cooperate with Iran on restoration of Lake Urmia'

    Tehran, IRNA - Head of Iran's Department of Environment Shina Ansari has announced that Japan will collaborate with Iran on the restoration of Lake Urmia as part of a joint agreement.

  • Rescuing Lake Urmia

    Photo: Ali Hamed Haghdoust

    Rescuing Lake Urmia

    The catchment area of ​​Lake Urmia with an area of ​​51,876 square kilometers is one of the 6 main catchment areas of the country, the process of drying up and decreasing its water level started in the late 70s and its height decreased by about 40 cm every year.In the 13th government, with the order of the president, 9 strategies to speed up the rescue of this water area and the continuation of the current process were approved with 23,000 billion Rials and the operation of restoring the lake and supplying water to it was started. This lake is supposed to reach its ecological level in the form of plans of the restoration headquarters. According to the secretary of the national working group to save Urmia lake, with the measures taken and the heavy rains and spring floods, the area of ​​Urmia lake has increased by 560 square kilometers compared to the same period last year, and the water volume of the lake has increased by 600 million cubic meters compared to the same period last year and reached two and a half billion cubic meters.

  • Salt extraction from Urmia Lake dried-up seabed

    Photo: Ali Hamed Haghdoust

    Salt extraction from Urmia Lake dried-up seabed

    Environment department authorities of two provinces of East and West Azerbaijan held a briefing with reporters to discuss reports about lithium extraction from brine in Lake Urmia on January 1, 2024.

  • Flamingos over Iran's Maharlou Lake

    Flamingos over Iran's Maharlou Lake

    Situated in the Iranian southern province of Fars, Maharlou Lake hosts some species of birds including flamingos annually. (IRNA photos/ Erfan Samanfar)

  • Level of water in Lake Urmia increasing amid heavy rainfall

    Level of water in Lake Urmia increasing amid heavy rainfall

    Tehran, IRNA – The amount of water being supplied to the endangered Lake Urmia has increased significantly amid heavy rainfall in northwestern Iran.

  • President emphasizes continuation of Lake Urmia restoration

    President emphasizes continuation of Lake Urmia restoration

    Oroumiyeh, IRNA – Representative of Oroumiyeh city in the Parliament cited Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi saying Lake Urmia restoration program should be continued.

  • Kazem Dashi; huge rocky structure in middle of Iran's Urmia Lake

    Kazem Dashi; huge rocky structure in middle of Iran's Urmia Lake

    Kazem Dashi, also known as "Qala Dashi" is a large and historic rock mass in the northwest of Urmia Lake. Kazem Dashi is located in Gurchin Qaleh village, 70 km from Urmia. At different times in history, the site provided a safe haven for the surrounding villagers. Urmia, West Azarbaijan Province, Iran. May 18, 2021. IRNA/ Taha Asgharkhani.