Table of Contents
Is Urmia a Kurdish?
The majority of villages in West Azarbaijan are indeed Kurdish, but the town Urmia historically was more Azeri. Also The Kurdish birth-rate is much higher and this has also lead the city/province to seem perhaps majority Kurdish.
Where is Lake Urmia located?
Iran
Lake Urmia is an endorheic salt lake in Iranian Azerbaijan, Iran and near Iran’s border with Turkey. The lake is between the provinces of East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan in Iran, and west of the southern portion of the Caspian Sea.
Why is Lake Urmia drying up?
But today, construction of 48 dams (Garousi et al., 2013) has been constructed on the main rivers and main sources of lake water supply and it has caused a sharp decrease in the catchment water of the lake, which, with these unplanned dams and changing of river direction to the agricultural areas, surely the lake will …
Why is Lake Urmia red?
Like the Aral Sea, Iran’s salty Lake Urmia has shrunk rapidly during the past few decades. As it grows smaller, the lake grows saltier. And as it grows saltier, microscopic organisms are periodically turning the water striking shades of red and orange.
What is Urmia famous for?
The city is the trading center for a fertile agricultural region where fruits (especially apples and grapes) and tobacco are grown. Even though the majority of the residents of Urmia are Muslims, the Christian history of Urmia is well preserved and is especially evident in the city’s many churches and cathedrals.
What is Lake Urmia used for?
Lake Urmia is Iran’s largest wetland and was once one of the biggest saltwater lakes in the world. Until recently, it was also Iran’s principal domestic tourism destination. For decades, Tehranis would drive the 10 hours or so from the capital to the country’s far north-west.
What happened Urmia lake?
Iran’s Lake Urmia has shriveled because of water mismanagement. Iran’s Lake Urmia was once the second-largest saltwater lake in the world, covering more than 2,000 square miles at its deepest in the 1990s. In the past two decades, the lake has dried out, shrinking at times to less than 20% of its average size.
Are there fish in Lake Urmia?
By virtue of its high salinity, the lake no longer sustains any fish species. Nonetheless, Urmia Lake is considered a significant natural habitat of Artemia, which serve as food source for the migratory birds such as flamingos.
Is Lake Urmia drying up?
Lake Urmia has been shrinking for a long time, with an annual evaporation rate of 0.6 to 1 m (24 to 39 in). Although measures are now being taken to reverse the trend the lake has shrunk by 60% and could disappear entirely. Only 5% of the lake’s water remains.
When was Urmia founded?
According to Vladimir Minorsky, there were villages in the Urmia Plain as early as 2000 BC, with their civilization under the influence of the Kingdom of Van. Excavations of the ancient ruins near Urmia led to the discovery of utensils that date to the 20th century BC.
What’s the deepest lake in Iran?
Iran’s Lake Urmia was once the second-largest saltwater lake in the world, covering more than 2,000 square miles at its deepest in the 1990s. In the past two decades, the lake has dried out, shrinking at times to less than 20% of its average size.
What is the population of the city of Urmia?
Lake Urmia, one of the world’s largest salt lakes, lies to the east of the city, and the mountainous Turkish border area lies to the west. Urmia is the 10th most populated city in Iran. At the 2012 census, its population was 667,499, with 197,749 households. The city’s inhabitants are predominantly Azerbaijanis who speak the Azerbaijani language.
Where does the last name Urmia come from?
Richard Nelson Frye suggested Urartian origin for the name while T. Burrow connected the origin of the name Urmia to Indo-Iranian urmi- “wave” and urmya- “undulating, wavy”, which comes from the local Assyrian folk etymology for the name which related mia to a Syriac word meaning “water”.
What was the name of Urmia Lake in ancient times?
In ancient times, the west bank of Urmia Lake was called Gilzan, and in the 9th century BC an independent government ruled there, which later joined the Urartu or Manna empire; in the 8th century BC, the area was a vassal of the Asuzh government until it joined the Median Empire .
Who are some famous people from Urmia Iran?
During its history Urmia was the origin for many Iranian illumination [clarification needed] and modernization movements. The city was the hometown of numerous figures including politicians, revolutionaries, artists, and military leaders. Following is a partial list of some of the people who was born or lived in Urmia.