VAN, Turkey - Turkey’s Lake Van has seen a worrying retreat of its shoreline due to drought and a lack of rainfall.
With more than three million people living around the lake, which is the largest sodium water lake in the world, many worry of the effects its shrinking will have on life in the region.
“The most important reason [for reduced water levels] is that there are dams and hydraulic power plants built on the lake. We want the authorities to establish good policies around the lake because three million people live around it,” said Zeynal Abidin Celebi, Member of Van Historical Articles, Research and Development Association (CHEVDER). “This is not a small [number].”
Lake Van is located in Kurdish areas of Turkey's eastern Van and Bitlis provinces.
Its shoreline has retreated by more than one kilometer since last year, according to Mustafa Akkus, a scientist from Yuzuncu Yil University.
“I have been working here for eight years and I have not seen anything like this. The water level has dropped by 22-23 meters,” said Ali Demir, a surveyor. “It is not looking good for next year.”
The dwindling water level has led to forgotten graves and tombs emerging from under the evaporating lake, and various bird species migrating.
Translation by Zhelwan Zeyad Wali
Video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed
