Aletheia Casey

Water Pollution in Iran

Iranians flock to the water during the annual Persian New Year Celebrations. Many go to the Caspian Sea and others in the Northern Regions will still go to Lake Urmia, a body of water which is the largest salt lake in the Middle East.

The massive lake lies far away from the country's capital Tehran, between the provinces of East and West Azerbaijan. The lake used to be an important feeding ground for huge amounts of wildlife and birds. Now, due to drought, irrigation and damming projects which block the water flow to the lake. Now, Lake Urmia is emptying fast in what used to be a massive body of water.

In 2011 thousands of people from the towns of Tabriz and Oroumiyeh (Urmia) took to the streets to protest against the government's continual lack of action in protecting the lake. The results were mass arrests and, according to local and international media organisations the peaceful protestors were met with brute force which resulted in many protestors being badly injured.

Years ago while travelling across the middle east region I stumbled across Lake Urmia .The memory of Lake Urmia has lived with me for years and it was these memories that brought me back to the shores in 2011.  I remember Iranians playing and laughing on the shores of the lake, picnicking and socialising together, much like the scenes seen today on the shores of the Caspian Sea.

When I returned in 2011 however the idyllic lake that I remember was now long gone. 

Now the water is so far away from the shore that it takes almost half an hour to reach it by foot. The salt crunches and brakes underfoot, while the boats sit awkwardly on the salty surface of the lake, a mockery of their old lives. It is feared that if the lake dries completely the many towns and cities  positioned close to the massive lake will be covered with life threatening salt and dust which will blow straight from the lake and cover the life which once thrived.

Meanwhile the Caspian Sea is becoming more and more polluted as sewage from Iran is dumped into the water. This, along with the pollution from oil extraction and other industries are a major cause of concern for local and visitors alike. Local people say that the government are doing very little to clear up the pollution problem in the Caspian area and others in the lake Urmia region say that they are afraid to protest for fear of being arrested, as happened last time local people raised the issues to the authorities. 

In this photo: Sayeh, a young Iranian girl poses for her portrait  in front of the Caspian Sea while on holidays with her family.

Children fly kites while on holiday in the popular tourist destination in Ramsar, Northern Iran. The seaside town of Ramsar is a crowded tourist destination for city dwellers from Tehran, especially during the annual Persian New Year's Festival in late March and April. The town lies on the Caspian sea and although heavily polluted is still a favorite destination for the holiday season.

Women cross the road carrying heavy luggage after a long trip from the capital Tehran to Northern Iran.

A family socialise and chat while in Holiday during the Persian New Year Celebrations in Northern Iran.  It is common for extended family members to live together in Iran with families being tight-knit and relying on each other for financial and personal support.

A deserted villa sits empty near the dry shores of Lake Urmia, West Azerbaijan . Because of the receding water levels less and less tourists are visiting the lake and during the cooler months most of the villas and hotels are deserted. 

A view of Lake Urmia from the shores of a local resort. The water has receded so far that it takes almost 30 minutes to reach the water's edge by foot. The lake is receding at rapid rates due to most of the channels which once reached the lake being cut off for damming purposes.

Men farm their tomatoes in the countryside town near Lake Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran. The fertile land that surrounds the lake has always been used for farming however lack of rainfall is making farming more and more difficult. I am told by one of the farmers that the large rock seen in the left of frame used to be covered by water when he was young.

The silhouette of two women are seen through the windscreen of a speed boat which now lies abandoned on the dry salt lake bed of Lake Urmia.

A woman works outside her home in one of the towns which overlooks the lake, West Azerbaijan, Iran. 

A local man farms in the countryside town near Lake Urmia, West Azerbaijan 

Not long ago the lake was full and home to many types of birds, fish and flamingos. Now this salt lake is emptying fast as all channels of water that reached the lake have been damned. The affect on the environment and the people in the towns that surround this massive lake is devastating. Last time the people from the villages in this area tried to protest many people were arrested and thrown in jail.

A local woman looks at the view from her farm  in the countryside town near Lake Urmia, West Azerbaijan.

The town overlooks the lake, which is the largest salt water lake in the middle east but which is fast drying up. Due to the tributaries being blocked very little water arrives the lake now and it is slowly turning into a salt plain. The drying of the lake has lead to huge environmental damage to the area.

A couple work in their farm in the countryside town near Lake Urmia, West Azerbaijan 

Not long ago the lake was full and home to many types of birds, fish and flamingos. Now this salt lake is almost empty as all channels of water that reached the lake have been damned. The affect on the environment and the people in the towns that surround this massive lake is devastating. Last time the people from the villages in this area tried to protest many people were arrested and thrown in jail.

Men farm their tomatoes in the countryside town near Lake Urmia, West Azerbaijan 

Not long ago the lake was full and home to many types of birds, fish and flamingos. I am told by one of the farmers that the large rock seen in the left of frame used to be covered by water when he was young.

Experts predict that if nothing is done about this the lake could be completely dry by 2016.

A young boy runs home with his dog in the town near Lake Urmia, West Azerbaijan 

Not long ago the lake was full and home to many types of birds, fish and flamingos. Now this salt lake is almost empty as all channels of water that reached the lake have been damned. The affect on the environment and the people in the towns that surround this massive lake is devastating.