At a Glance

• Lake Urmia's water in eastern Kurdistan has turned red and pink due to seasonal shifts and high evaporation rates.

• Urmia Environmental Director Hojat Jabari confirmed the phenomenon is natural, driven by concentrated salt and biological activity.

• Experts attribute the color change to proliferating algae and brine shrimp known as Artemia during warm months.

• Salinity levels have reached 330 grams per liter, while historical data shows the lake has lost 80 percent of its water since 2022.

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In a statement, local environmental officials reported that rising temperatures and severe evaporation have altered the color of Lake Urmia in eastern Kurdistan, transforming its waters into striking shades of red and pink.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Ecological Drivers: Environmental director Hojat Jabari explained that falling water levels and escalating salt concentration create optimal conditions for specific microorganisms to thrive.

• Scientific Consensus: Researchers identify extreme hypersalinity, algae blooms, and swarms of Artemia, often referred to as Iran's red gold, as the primary catalysts for the annual seasonal phenomenon.

• Geographical Context: Formerly spanning 5,200 square kilometers as one of the Middle East's largest saline lakes, the basin continues to grapple with severe shrinkage and drying trends.

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The dramatic visual transformation regularly attracts international media attention, highlighting the fragile ecosystem of the region. While officials note that studies into the precise biological mechanisms remain ongoing, the extreme salinity levels continue to reshape the landscape and flora surrounding the receding shoreline.

FYI

Lake Urmia is a hypersaline endorheic lake located between the provinces of West Azerbaijan and East Azerbaijan in Iran. Its high salt content supports unique halophilic microorganisms and brine shrimp, which produce carotenoid pigments that cause the distinctive red and pink hues during peak summer evaporation periods.

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