By Mehdi Garshasbi

FAO participates in project to support Lake Urmia restoration

TEHRAN – Through a joint project led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Government of Japan, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will join to promote sustainable agricultural practices and solutions for the conservation of Lake Urmia.

Archaeologists uncover ancient iron production site south of Lake Urmia

TEHRAN - For the first time, archaeologists have discovered a historic iron production site in the Vesta Sheikh area south of Lake Urmia, northwest Iran.

UNDP welcomes contribution from Japan to strengthen wetland management, climate resilience in Iran

TEHRAN – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Islamic Republic of Iran has received a generous contribution of JPY 690,000,000 from the Government of Japan to enhance wetland management and strengthen climate resilience in Lake Urmia, Shadegan, Parishan, and Anzali wetlands.

Lake Urmia’s water volume, level grow yr/yr

TEHRAN—Lake Urmia is currently in better condition in terms of level and volume of water compared to last year, an official with West Azarbaijan governor general's office has said.

Armenian group visits historical sites in northwest Iran

TEHRAN - A group of Armenian nationals recently visited historical and religious sites in West Azarbaijan province as part of a familiarization tour organized by the provincial Department of Cultural Heritage and Tourism.

Urartu-era cuneiform inscription vandalized in northwest Iran

TEHRAN - Treasure hunters have vandalized an ancient cuneiform inscription and Iron Age cemetery in East Azarbaijan province, northwest Iran.

Satellite image showing Lake Urmia shades of red and orange

TEHRAN – The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite recently captured a transition in the color of Lake Urmia between April and July 2016.

Lake Urmia hosting migratory grey cranes, flamingos

TEHRAN –The first flocks of migratory grey cranes and flamingos have been spotted in satellite wetlands of Lake Urmia, northwestern West Azarbaijan province, an official with the provincial department of environment, has said.

Lake Urmia’s water volume increases by 1bcm yr/yr

TEHRAN –Despite the unprecedented increase in air temperature and water evaporation in summer, Lake Urmia has one billion cubic meters more water compared to the same period last year, an official with the provincial Department of Environment has said.

Excavation sheds new light on Mannai culture

TEHRAN – A recent archaeological work has shed new light on the Mannai civilization, which flourished in northwestern Iran in the 1st millennium BC.

Wetland being restored after 25 years

TEHRAN – Having been dried up for nearly 25 years, the Dargah Lotfollah wetland, located in Naqadeh county, northwestern West Azarbaijan province, is being revived, an official with the provincial department of environment has said.

Ancient artistry: the enduring legacy of Nazok-Kari in Urmia

TEHRAN - Nazok-Kari is an ancient craft being practiced in Urmia, in northwest Iran.

Lake Urmia festival held to celebrate revival

A cultural and recreational festival was held on Friday on the shores of Lake Urmia with the participation of people from all walks of life to celebrate the relative revival of the Lake thanks to recent precipitations.

Lake Urmia’s area expands to 1500 sq. km

TEHRAN – Thanks to a 43 percent increase in precipitation, the area of Lake Urmia basin has reached 1,500 square kilometers.

Lake Urmia’s area expands year on year

TEHRAN –Satellite images show that the area of Lake Urmia measured on February 22 was equal to 2,061 square kilometers which has increased compared to 1,819 square kilometers on March 7, 2023.

Heat islands in Lake Urmia aggravate low rainfall: expert

TEHRAN – The current drought and the severe aridity in Lake Urmia have created heat islands that intensify the heat and make the situation of low rainfall even more aggravated.

Salt harvesting from Lake Urmia

Drying of parts of Lake Urmia has exposed to salt domes in various areas of the lake.

Rainfall down by 40% in Lake Urmia basin

TEHRAN –The amount of precipitation in Lake Urmia basin has decreased by 40 percent in the long term.

Turkish travel insiders visit Iran on fam tour

TEHRAN – On Wednesday, a group of Turkish travel insiders started a familiarization tour of attractions in Iran’s West Azarbaijan province.

Finland ready to contribute to Lake Urmia revival

TEHRAN –Finland's ambassador to Iran, Kari Kahiluoto, has announced his country’s readiness to cooperate in the restoration of Lake Urmia.

Water transfer from Lake Van to Lake Urmia on agenda

TEHRAN - Research and academic studies are being carried out on transferring water from Lake Van in Turkey to help revive Lake Urmia which has been drying up in recent years, MP Mohammad-Reza Mirtajeddini has said.

Financial aid to restore Lake Urmia not affected by sanctions: UNDP rep

TEHRAN- Claudio Providas, the UNDP resident representative in Iran, has said that sanctions have had no effect on providing financial support to protect Iran's wetlands and revive Lake Urmia, in particular.

Seoul’s envoy tours attractions in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – Seoul’s ambassador to Tehran Yun Kang-hyeon has paid visits to several tourist attractions in Urmia, northwest Iran.

Wetlands protection helps sustainable agriculture around Lake Urmia

TEHRAN - The plan to protect wetlands has reduced water consumption by up to 27 percent, helping sustainable agriculture around Lake Urmia.

Wetland hosting myriads of flamingos

Some ten thousand flamingos have migrated to one of the wetlands in the vicinity of Lake Urmia, northwest of Iran.

Second project on reviving Lake Urmia to be inaugurated

TEHRAN – The wastewater treatment plant of the city of Urmia, as the second project aimed at reviving Lake Urmia, will come on stream in the near future.

Satellite images show successful Lake Urmia revival plan: official

TEHRAN - Satellite images of Lake Urmia show that the water transfer plan has been able to solve the problem of reduced water input to a great extent, Hassan Dalirian, a spokesman for the Iranian Space Agency, has said.

Recent rainfall boosts water level at Lake Urmia

TEHRAN - The level of water at Lake Urmia is rising thanks to recent rainfall flowing into the endangered lake.