Only 10 Percent of Lake Urmia Remains
A climatology professor at the University of Tabriz says more than 90 percent of Lake Urmia has dried up and it will take approximately 25 years to restore it. He identifies agricultural water-dependent projects around the lake as one of the factors contributing to its desiccation.
Behrooz Sari-Saraff, head of the Department of Meteorology and climatology professor at the University of Tabriz, told the Iran Student News Agency (ISNA) that Lake Urmia has ceased to be a lake and has turned into a salt bed or playa, and all current efforts are merely to prevent salt dust storms.
In his remarks, this expert cited the latest statistics published on the website of the Regional Water Company of the province (December 15) which estimated the volume of water in Lake Urmia at one billion and 66 million cubic meters, stating that according to the 30-year long-term average, the amount of water in the lake should be equal to 16 billion cubic meters.
The reduction in lake water has many causes, but the climatology professor at the University of Tabriz considers “the negligence of legislators and officials” as one of the most important factors in creating the drought crisis of Lake Urmia. He emphasizes that fifteen years ago, some warnings from researchers and academics about the drying of Lake Urmia were called “alarmism” and were ignored.
Production of 1.2 Million Tons of Sugar Beet on Lake Urmia’s Shores
Behrooz Sari-Saraff further criticized the cultivation of sugar beets on the shores of Lake Urmia. In this regard, he points to the conversion of 500,000 hectares of sloped lands on the shores of Lake Urmia into orchards. According to Sari-Saraff, the sugar beet cultivation plan was a mistake given the acute need for water, and the implementation of this plan has exacerbated the drought crisis of Lake Urmia.
This local expert also discusses the impact of Lake Urmia’s desiccation on warming air: “In the past, the water body of the lake played an effective role in moderating the air in cities around the lake. But today, given the existence of vast dry areas and the nature of deserts, we are witnessing air warming even in the cold seasons of the year.”
Although the climatology professor at the University of Tabriz emphasizes that 90 percent of Lake Urmia has dried up, he has not lost hope for restoring the lake and points out that “emergency measures” are needed; measures that require time: “To restore a lake like Lake Urmia in the world takes approximately 25 years. We hope that at least our descendants and future generations will see the restoration of the lake within another century!”
Source: DW
