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Lake Urmia water level fluctuations

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2026-10-24 15:26 UTC → 2026-10-26 11:34 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Lake Urmia has experienced a significant increase in water levels and surface area due to increased precipitation. Recent data shows the water level rose by 110 centimeters, reaching 1,270.58 meters above sea level, with a basin volume of approximately 2.52 billion cubic meters. This represents a nearly tenfold increase compared to the previous year. Following this rise, water levels have stabilized at approximately 2.55 billion cubic meters at the start of the new water year. While the current trend marks the beginning of a restoration, experts note that an annual water supply of 3.4 billion cubic meters is required for ecological stability. Management efforts to sustain these levels include utilizing river flows, releasing dam water, and repurposing treated wastewater. Additionally, authorities are implementing sustainable agricultural pilots in 11 villages and monitoring water transfer routes to protect the lake’s biodiversity and satellite wetlands. Recent reports indicate the lake's surface area has expanded to approximately 1,946 square kilometers, an increase of more than 1,473 square kilometers over the past year. This improvement is attributed to precipitation that was 43 percent higher than the same period last year and 13 percent above the long-term average. Mahid Rostegari, CEO of the West Azerbaijan Regional Water Company, noted that water levels have increased more than ninefold compared to the same period last year. Officials are aiming for a volume of 5 billion cubic meters, potentially aided by rainfall patterns associated with El Niño. In East Azerbaijan, rainfall for the current water year has increased by 22.5 mm compared to the previous year, representing a 72.6% increase over long-term averages. Authorities are currently focusing on managing runoff, dredging rivers, and opening waterways to recharge groundwater and support the ecosystem.

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