Iran has hugh semi-arid areas some of which face serious water scarcity problems.
ISFAHAN
The Zayandeh Rud („Life-spending river“) is the largest river in central Iran which flows through the provincial capital Isfahan into a salt lake („Gavkhuni“ („blood of the cow“)). It has completely dried out, only twice a year the water is released from the upstream dam. Since there is a saying pointing to the splendor of the ancient city „Isfahan – nesfe jahan“ (Isfahan – half of the world), we can say that half of the world has dried out.
Far and wide no danger of drowning…
…but danger of fragility for the 33 arch bridge (Siosepol) piers.
Though it is still a place for gathering. Still a place to relax…
…and still a place for night time singing, the powerful sound stream of which let the „life spending river“ come alive again.
URUMIYEH
The largest lake in Iran has shrinked to a fraction of its original size.
Beside the cultivation of grapes, there are large apple plantations which drink the water of the lake. What appeared is a thick salt layer crawling wider and wider.