Reza Manafzadeh works on a fruit-tree farm at the edge of the salt lake, where crops are irrigated by a new method—recycled factory water brought by tanker truck. “I’m so worried about my son’s future,” he says. “If there will be no water in Iran, our children will lose interest in their country.”
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
A field of sunflowers, some covered with plastic bags protecting them from the salt and dust storms that are generated in the exposed lake bed of Lake Urmia.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
Harvesting tomatoes near Qalqachi village, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Tomatoes are used for making a thick paste that is a popular cooking base in traditional Iranian cuisine.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
A herd of sheep near Lake Urmia.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
Thousands of white mosquitoes on a window frame of a restaurant around Lake Urmia.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
Students run around at Qalqachi primary school's playground. There are eight students left in this school. Many villages close to Lake Urmia are emptying out due to the drought.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
There are only eight students left at Qalqachi primary school, and they are all taught in one classroom.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
Maohammad Azmodeh and his family have owned this coffeehouse for over 85 years. Fifteen years ago this place was so busy that customers had to hold their coffee cups in their hands since there was no space to put them aside.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
Taxidermied birds at the Natural History Museum of Urmia.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic
The village of Guvarchin Qaleh.
Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian, National Geographic