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Urmia (Oroomiyeh, Orumieh)
General Information
| Description |
Lake Urmia is a vast, beautiful, hypersaline lake. Local people believe that the lakeside mud has special medicinal properties. Designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, the lake is currently threatened by dam construction and exploitation of the rivers draining into it. In 2010, Mher News Agency reported Hassan Abbasnejad as saying, "Given the current trend of environmental crisis, Orumieh Lake will be completely dried within three years." |
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| Country |
Iran
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| Latitude |
37° 40' 0"
(37.6667) |
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| Longitude |
45° 30'
0" (45.5000) |
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Physical Characteristics
| Description |
Lake Urmia receives water from the surrounding mountains, and has no outlet. |
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| Volume |
45.00 km3 |
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| Surface Area |
5,960.00 km2 |
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| Depth |
Mean depth: 5.0 m
Maximum depth: 16.0 m
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| Origin |
Tectonic
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| Type |
Saline
Permanent
Natural
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Socio-Political
| Economic Value |
Construction on a bridge across the lake was started in the 1970's, but was abandoned after the Islamic Revolution. One third of the bridge is still missing. |
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| Major Cities |
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Watershed Management
| Description |
Construction of dams and exploitation of rivers draining into the lake have caused the lake to shrink by 60%, resulting in a rise in salinity and a decline in its oxygen content. In 2010, the lake's maximum depth was reported to be two meters. |
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| Issues |
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| Other Issues |
Biodiversity Conservation
Lake Levels (water quantity)
Watershed habitat alteration
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| Monitoring |
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Biodiversity Conservation
| Description |
This saltwater lake in northwestern Iran is home to various migratory birds, including flamingos, pelicans, spoonbills, ibises, storks, avocets, stilts and gulls. |
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| Designations |
Biosphere Reserve
LakeNet Biodiversity Priority
National Designation
Ramsar Site
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| Ramsar Site Name |
Urmia Lake |
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| Ramsar Designations |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
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| Species of Concern |
The Ocellated mountain viper (Vipera wagneri) lives only near Lake Uromiyeh and is on the verge of imminent extinction. |
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Documents
Resources
News
Additional Data Sources
| • |
Birkett, C., and I. Mason. 1995. A new global lakes database for remote sensing programme studying climatically sensitive large lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 21 (3) 307-318. |
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| • |
Duker, L. and L. Borre. 2001. Biodiversity conservation of the world's lakes: a preliminary framework for identifying priorities. LakeNet Report Series Number 2. Annapolis, Maryland USA. |
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| • |
Herdendorf, C. 1982. Large lakes of the world. Journal of Great Lakes Research 8:379-412. |
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| • |
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The List of Wetlands of International Importance. |
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