Women play in the red waters of what remains of Lake Urmia.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
Empty buildings and abandoned boats are all that remain at Rahmanlu Port. When the lake was full, cars queued up on the pier to load onto a ferry that cut hours off the drive time around the lake from the city of Tabriz to Urmia on the other side.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
This cruise-boat wreck is a testament to the great days of the Bari tourist resort that was at the shores of Lake Urmia, near the city of Qushchi. After a few years of inactivity, the luxurious Bari tourist resort opened for business again, but despite providing new facilities that could compensate for the disappearance of Lake Urmia, such as a swimming pool, a billiard table, a mini-zoo, tourists failed to materialise.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
Three brothers at the village of Guvarchin Qaleh.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
Three brothers at the village of Guvarchin Qaleh.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
A family walks as the sun sets at Lake Urmia.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic