Lake Urmi has Turned Red, and Here’s Why
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Like the famous Aral Sea between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan— Lake Ūrmī in north-west Iran is rapidly drying up. Once considered a tourist hotspot, today, it looks more like a scene from the biblical Book of Exodus.
Based on satellite observations, Lake Ūrmī has progressively lost approximately 70 percent of its surface area over the last few decades. As it grows smaller, the lake has not only grown saltier but become a breeding ground for microscopic organisms called Dunaliella algae.
In conditions of high salinity and light intensity, this microalga turns red. Spring rains as well as melting snow from the nearby mountainous districts often help stabilise the lake’s salinity and colour by supplying freshwater.
© Nasa’s Earth Observatory
The effects of climate change, on the other hand, have caused significant disruptions to the usual balance of nature in the region. Today, Lake Ūrmī is confronted with persistent heatwaves, drought, and poor water management systems.
Once the world’s largest brine shrimp habitats, the changing environment has significantly cut their growth and reproduction. The destructive effects of climate change have also undermined the local food web by driving away migratory birds such as ducks, egrets, and pelicans.
