Lake Urmia

Urmia was the largest lake in the Middle East and one of the largest salt lakes on earth, covering around five thousand square kilometres, and over the past three decades it has lost the great majority of its water to upstream dams, irrigation abstraction and reduced rainfall, exposing enormous salt flats and leaving a shallow remnant. In summer the concentrated brine that remains supports halophilic algae and Artemia brine shrimp, which turn the water deep red, a striking sight that is also a symptom. A causeway carries the road between Urmia and Tabriz across the middle, giving a direct view. Restoration programmes have brought some water back in wet years. Islands in the lake hold wild sheep and the shore was once a major flamingo site.

What you actually see

• Red brine in summer - algae and Artemia colouring the shallow water.
• Exposed salt flats - the lake bed left dry by the retreat.
• The causeway crossing - the road running across the middle of the lake.
• Islands and shoreline - the remaining habitat for sheep and birds.

When to go

May to September for the red colour, which needs heat and concentration. Half a day, usually as a stop on the drive between Tabriz and Urmia. Water levels vary enormously year to year.

Honest expectations

This is an environmental loss on a very large scale and it is visible; the red water is a symptom of hypersalinity, not a natural spectacle to celebrate. Salt dust storms off the dry bed affect the region's health. Access to the shore is difficult in places. There are few facilities.

Nearby

Urmia is west; Tabriz lies east across the causeway.