An Overview on Environmental Disturbance and Ecological Tragedy in Urmia Lake: The World's Second Largest Hypersaline Ecosystem

Urmia Lake is the second largest hypersaline lake in the world, covering average 5000 km2 when full. The lake moderates extreme temperatures of the region and many tourists visit it for recreation, swimming and mud treatment during summer. During last two decades, increased demands for agricultural water in the lake's basin and recent droughts have shrunk the lake dramatically, exposing 60-80% of the lake bed. This review indicates that increased water demand in the lake basin, recent droughts and global warming are the main drivers for the Urmia Lake shrinkage. The Iranian government has made restoration of this remarkable ecosystem a crucial priority. Here we concluded the causes and consequences of Urmia Lake shrinkage and provide a brief discussion of the impacts on its fauna and flora, coloration, wetlands and islands. As Urmia Lake shrinking persists, many environmental, economic and social advantages will be completely lost in the lake's basin.

Keywords: Urmia Lake, restoration, wetlands, shrinking, ecological disaster.