Lake Urmia, located in Urmia province of Rojhilatê (Western) Kurdistan, is the largest lake in the Middle East and the sixth-largest saltwater lake on Earth.

The lake with a surface area of approximately 5,200 km2, a length of 140 km, a width of 55 km, and a maximum depth of 16 m has shrunk to 10% of its former size. The lake with approximately 102 islands is facing risk of disappearance.

University of Tabriz Department of Meteorology Executive Behroz Sarî Seraf stated that the lake has dried up by 90% and criticized the Iranian regime’s unconcerned attitude towards the nature. Seraf stated that Iranian government officials have not fulfilled their promise regarding measures to prevent the disappearance of the lake.

Seraf remarked that drying up of the lake is changing the weather condition in the region, noting that it is still warm despite the winter season.