Eng. GholamReza KarimZadeh

Lake Urmia’s Water Level Decline: Two Decades of Shrinkage and Crisis

Sun Aug 10 2025

Lake Urmia’s water level peaked in 1995 but has since undergone a dramatic long-term decline. Short-term recoveries due to rainfall have not reversed the overall downward trend, which is primarily driven by reduced inflows, evaporation, and lack of proper water allocation.

Water Level Rise and Peak (Early 1990s–1995)

At the start of the 1990s, Lake Urmia experienced significant water level growth. In 1995, it reached a historical peak of 1278.5 meters.

Steady Decline (1995–2001)

Following this peak, reduced rainfall and declining inflows triggered a downward trend. In just three years, the water level dropped by about 1 meter, and between 1997–2001, it lost another 3.5 meters, reaching 1274 meters by summer 2001.

Gradual Decrease (2001–2015)

Although the decline slowed slightly, the long-term drop continued. By 2015, the lake’s water level had fallen to 1271 meters—a total loss of 7.5 meters compared to 1995.

Satellite Evidence of Drying (2015–2019)

Remote sensing images revealed widespread desiccation, particularly in the southern basin. From 2015 to 2019, much of the lakebed dried out.

Temporary Recovery (2018–2019)

Increased rainfall temporarily boosted the water level to 1272 meters, but this improvement lasted less than a year. By 2020, reduced precipitation and high evaporation drove levels back down to 1271.5 meters.

Current Situation (2022–Present)

By 2022, the lake’s volume had shrunk to 1.41 billion cubic meters, marking a 95% reduction in water over two decades. On average, the lake lost 40 cm of water per year.