Water Level of Lake Van Decreases

In Turkey, the water level of Lake Van, referred to as a "sea" by local residents, is decreasing daily due to climate change and drought. This is reported by 'Ermenihaber'. The media outlet notes that satellite images also reflect changes along the shores of the lake, where microbialites have formed over centuries, as well as historical structures and residential areas that have submerged in the past due to rising water levels.

Satellite images from July this year, compared by Mustafa Akkuş from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University to those taken two years ago by NASA's Landsat and the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellites, show that many areas that were previously underwater have turned into dry land. During the assessment of the satellite images, Akkuş stated that the shape of Lake Van on the map has changed in several areas due to the drought.

Noting that the change is clearly visible when comparing satellite images from previous years with current ones, he declared that an area of 10-15 square kilometers has turned into dry land. Akkuş pointed out that the lake is losing more and more water daily under the influence of reduced precipitation and temperatures above seasonal norms. About 3 million people live around the lake, and the lake's ecosystem is in serious danger.

Additionally, the retreat of the shores of Lake Van and the reduction of wetland areas are also affecting the feeding and breeding grounds of migratory birds.