People are forced to leave their homes: Iran has entered an era of water crisis

The problem of lack of fresh water is, unfortunately, familiar to many countries on our planet. But if in China or India several regions suffer from a lack of water, then in Iran this has become a problem on a national scale. In recent years, the effects of climate change, as well as the increased anthropogenic press on aquatic ecosystems, are becoming more and more visible in this country. Where once full-flowing rivers flowed, today you can see only empty, dried up valleys. People are forced to leave their homes in remote villages and move to cities due to the fact that many of Iran’s small rivers are shallow and disappear.

The territory of Iran has always suffered from irregular precipitation and a small amount, especially the central, eastern and southeastern parts of the country. But over the past 20 years, rain and snow in the mountains began to fall even less, which did not slow to affect the state of Iranian rivers and lakes. In addition, the population is growing in Iran, which means that people need more water for drinking, irrigation of crops and household needs. Since the middle of the last century, the country's population has increased by almost 3 times, but there is no more rainfall.

If we look at a map of the distribution of precipitation across Iran and compare it with population density, it turns out that most of the Iranians live in the western and northwestern regions of the country. This circumstance clearly shows us how much life in Iran depends on the availability of water or its absence. The distribution of the population within the country is limited by the availability of sufficient water resources.

Despite the fact that the north-west of Iran is the region most endowed with rainfall and water, traces of water scarcity can also be seen here. Lake Urmia is the country's largest body of water, in just 20 years it has lost more than 50% of its area, and its salinity has risen sharply. The water of this salt lake is intensively pumped out for irrigation, which, along with a reduction in the flow of water from the flowing rivers, has led to a sharp reduction in the area and the formation of extensive salt marshes around Urmia. The government takes measures to save the lake, in particular, funds are allocated for the construction of a water supply system from the Caspian Sea to replenish the volume of the lake. But time passes, and Urmia is increasingly compared with the deceased Aral Sea.

Another example of a water crisis in a country is the Zayenderud River. In ancient times, in the city of Isfahan several beautiful bridges were built across this river. But today it is increasingly possible to observe such a picture as in the photo below.

The Zayenderud River, like dozens of other Iranian rivers, is shallow and dries.

The Karun River, which is Iran’s only navigable river, is also experiencing problems. Environmentalists record a decrease in water levels in the river and the appearance of sandy islands, which has never been observed before.

The population of the southern regions of the country is increasingly leaving their homes and moving to large cities, where the problem of water shortage is still not so palpable. But it is obvious to everyone that the country is on the verge of a deep water crisis, a solution to which must be sought as soon as possible.