Lake Urmia in northwest Iran is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 258 miles above.
iss067e213325 (July 30, 2022) — Lake Urmia in northwest Iran, once one of the biggest saltwater lakes in the world, is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 258 miles above. Persistent drought, dam-building, and agricultural activities contributed to the lake’s depletion leading to excessive red algae growth and a soaring salt content. Restoration programs, returning rainfall, and falling water consumption over the last several years have begun to replenish the lake.