140 km-long Lake Urumiyah, which is an attraction center for swimming, water sports and boat activities, is at a great stake. Lake Urumiyah attracts a lot of people in summer with its beautiful beaches and salty water. Depending on its water containing many minerals, Lake Urumiyah has made its region one of the most beautiful and unique places of the world for the water therapy systems. This lake is unfortunately under the danger of extinction.
Within the borders of the West Azerbaijan, in the Lake Urumiyah National Park, which is under a ?so-called? protection and which contains islands, coasts, various kinds of plants and animals, and the area of 4810 hectares some kind of ecologic problems, depending on the increase in the saltiness level due to the decrease of the water level, are experienced. A meeting was hold in Tabriz in November 16 ? 17, 2007 on this issue.In the above-mentioned meeting, to which relevant individuals and experts were attended from the cities of Tabriz and Urumiyah, it was declared that ?the negativities seen in Lake Urumiyah were mentioned to the relevant authorities in the year 2005, however no appropriate researches and studies were conducted on this issue.? In addition to this, it is reported that in the meeting, some points as ?as of November 300 milligram salt in one liter lake water was measured, and the reason for this is the decrease in the waters of the rivers flowing to the Lake Urumiyah, the future of the lake would be in danger if any measures do not taken, and the people living around would be affected negatively because of this reason? are discussed.
According to the experts, although the individuals attending to the meeting could not express the following facts openly, ?they point out that the central government is indifferent to the Azerbaijani States and insensitive to the problems of the region?. In addition to this, the experts underline that the area?s biological variety draws attention internationally and because of that reason the area was declared as a national park and taken under protection as ?a biosphere region? by UNESCO. It is suggested that the Government of Iran?s unconcerned attitude towards Lake Urumiyah would also set environmental organizations in motion.
(oursouthazerbaijan)