Water resources expert Husein Khoroshi Isali, originally from southern Azerbaijan, discussed the fate of Lake Urmia in an interview with Voice of America. According to Mr. Isali, who specializes in environmental issues, the drying up of Lake Urmia is not a natural disaster but a calamity caused by human actions. He warned that the consequences of this disaster will increasingly manifest in all spheres of life over time.
Husein Isali stated that the primary cause of Lake Urmia’s drying is poor management. Since the lake is located at the lowest point of the basin, its water supply depends on rivers flowing into it. However, the numerous dams built on these rivers have significantly restricted the flow of water into Lake Urmia.
According to Mr. Isali, over the past 30 years, agricultural land around Lake Urmia has expanded from 300,000 hectares to 680,000 hectares. This doubling of farmland has correspondingly doubled the demand for water. Mismanaged policies have redirected water that should have flowed into Lake Urmia to meet the needs of these agricultural areas.
Mr. Isali emphasized that the drying of Lake Urmia will lead to immense consequences. As the water dries up, 10 billion tons of salt will be exposed. Since the lake is located in a mountainous area, winds can carry these salt particles up to 500 kilometers. From a medical perspective, this will cause significant respiratory issues for people in the region.
In the past, many individuals who relied on the resources of Lake Urmia will be forced to leave their homes. People losing their jobs will migrate to other parts of the country, which will seriously impact the demographics of Iranian Azerbaijan, Mr. Isali concluded.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Hüseyn İsalı: Urmiyə gölünün quruması insan əməlidir