honorable mention
Ako Salemi iran, islamic republic of
title
Shrinking Lake Urmia
However, the lake has been shrinking rapidly over the last 20 years, primarily due to anthropogenic influences, while climate change has had also a detectable influence. Since 1996, drought has further contributed to the decline. The lake now covers about 10 percent of the area it covered in the 1970s.
As a result, the salinity of the lake has sharply increased. This is disturbing the ecosystems, local agriculture and livelihoods, regional health, as well as tourism.
This photo essay is part of my project about Climate Change crisis in Iran that provided by "Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting."
He received an honorable mentions from Instagram-Getty Images 2015 and 2016 grant. His images published worldwide in Time Lightbox, The New York Times, The Guardian, MSNBC Photography, lensculture and Instagram Blog. His proposal about the climate change crisis in Iran won Persephone Miel Fellowship of Pulitzer Center in 2016.
back to gallery
entry description
Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran was once the second largest salt lake in the world. It was a home to many species, among which a unique species of brine shrimp. Urmia basin supported a variety of agricultural production systems and activities as well as livestock.However, the lake has been shrinking rapidly over the last 20 years, primarily due to anthropogenic influences, while climate change has had also a detectable influence. Since 1996, drought has further contributed to the decline. The lake now covers about 10 percent of the area it covered in the 1970s.
As a result, the salinity of the lake has sharply increased. This is disturbing the ecosystems, local agriculture and livelihoods, regional health, as well as tourism.
This photo essay is part of my project about Climate Change crisis in Iran that provided by "Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting."
about the photographer
Ako Salemi was born in 1981 in Bukan, Kurdistan. Since 2006 he has worked as a photojournalist for several important Iranian newspapers. He documents several stories in social issues in countries such as Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is one of the founder members of an inspirational photography group called 'Hikari Creative'. One of his pics was among the best 29 Images published in Instagram in 2014 selected by Time Magazine.He received an honorable mentions from Instagram-Getty Images 2015 and 2016 grant. His images published worldwide in Time Lightbox, The New York Times, The Guardian, MSNBC Photography, lensculture and Instagram Blog. His proposal about the climate change crisis in Iran won Persephone Miel Fellowship of Pulitzer Center in 2016.
back to gallery