One Step to the Death of Bakhtegan
Bakhtegan, the second largest lake of Iran in Fars, has been dried. These days, people are dealing with environmental and economic problems. Climate changes, drought, construction of Doroudzan, Mollasadra and Sivand Dams, drilling many wells around the Kor and Sivand Rivers, drainage networks construction and governmental mismanagement contributed to the drying of rivers and subsequently Bakhtegan Lake. While the evidence suggests that Bakhtegan will die soon, there is an important remaining question; cannot we do anything to prevent this environmental catastrophe?
Korbal and Kharameh are two of the regions that are affected harshly by drying Bakhtegan Lake. Before drought, they were one of the most important agricultural centers of Fars. Migration rates in Korbal and Kharameh are 47 and 35 percentage, respectively. Most of the villages are uninhabited. The loss of water and agricultural land has increased unemployment and poverty, and forced people to migrate to large cities such as Shiraz. 22% of Shiraz’s drinking water comes from the Doroudzan Dam, built on the Kor River. Shiraz faces water rations in the summer and these migrations could make matters worse. After all, with the expansion of urbanization, the increase in crime rates is not unexpected.
I am a geologist and deal with issues related to water and climate change through my job. I believe in the power of images to make the issue more understandable. I hope that by raising awareness about the dimensions of the crisis, we can prevent the death of Bakhtegan. Water management, crop pattern modification, irrigation modification, smart meter installation and stakeholder partnership development are few suggestions among others.
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People are swimming in the Tang-e Boraq Valley, which is one of the main sources of the Kor River. Cool water, vast forests and gardens, especially in spring and summer, provide a place for tourists to relax. The construction of the Mollasadra Dam at the source of the river contributed to the drying of the Kor River and subsequently Bakhtegan Lake. Tang-e Boraq Valley, Eqlid, Fars, Iran, July, 2018.
Three young boys are cooking in the Tang-e Boraq Valley, which is one of the main sources of the Kor River. Cool water, vast forests and gardens, especially in spring and summer, provide a place for tourists to relax. The construction of the Mollasadra Dam at the source of the river contributed to the drying of the Kor River and subsequently Bakhtegan Lake. Tang-e Boraq Valley, Eqlid, Fars, Iran, July, 2018.
Women are washing carpets and blankets at Gomban Spring. Gomban spring is one of the sources of water supply of Tashk Lake which has been experiencing drastic decline in recent years. Due to drying of Bakhtegan, the connection between Tashk Lake and Bakhtegan has disappeared, causing the Tashk Lake to dry up more rapidly. Gomban Spring, Arsenjan, Fars, Iran, October, 2018.
Sheep are crossing rice paddy fields. Farmers burn paddy fields after harvesting rice. However the cultivation of rice and crops with high water demand is prohibited, they are widely cultivated downstream of the Doroudzan Dam and on the banks of the Kor River Doroudzan, Fars, Iran, October, 2018.
Zahra (left) rests her head on her mother’s shoulders (right). They, both, work on a tomato farm. Zahra is a seventeen-year-old girl who dropped out of school to work and support the family. Farmers of Korbal and Kharameh who lost their farmland go to Arsenjan to harvest tomatoes in the summer and autumn. They wake up five in the morning. The distance between home and farm for most workers is more than 50 km. The daily wage for twelve hours of hard work is 60,000 tomans (equals to 4.5 US dollars). Nosrat village, Kharameh, Fars, Iran, August, 2018.
The dried bed of the Kor River in the Band-e Amir village. Band-e Amir Bridge, seen in the background. This bridge, being an important monument of the early centuries of Islam, related to the Azododoleh-ye-Daylami period. More than ten historic bridges have been built on the Kor and Sivand rivers that are in danger of being destroyed as the rivers dry up. Band-e Amir Village, Marvdasht, Fars, Iran, August, 2018.
One of the drainage networks that cross the Kamjan Wetland. Kamjan is one of the important wetlands of Iran, which was registered at the first international wetlands convention in Ramsar. Tashk Lake is fed by overflow from the Kamjan Marshes. It is located west of Tashk Lake. Construction of drainage networks is one of the main reasons of drying out of Kamjan wetland. With drainage, water levels drop, causing wetlands to become suitable to agriculture. However, these days the farmland on both sides of the drainage is unused. Kamjan, Kharameh, Fars, Iran, October, 2018.
Workers and their children are getting on the minibus to go to work on tomato farms of Arsenjan at five oclock in the morning. Farmers of Korbal and Kharameh who have lost their farmland go to Arsenjan to harvest tomatoes in the summer and autumn. They wake up five in the morning. The distance from the farm to home of most of workers is more than 50 km. her daily wages are 60,000 tomans (equals to 4.5 US dollars) a day, for twelve hours of hard work. Nosrat village, Kharameh, Fars, Iran, August, 2018.
One of the blocking drainage networks that cross the Kamjan Wetland. Kamjan is one of the important wetlands of Iran, which was registered at the first international wetlands convention in Ramsar. Lake Tashk is fed by overflow from the Kamjan Marshes. Kamjan Lagoon is located west of Lake Tashk. The wetland was on the path of migratory birds and contained one percent of Middle Eastern birds. The wetland was dried due to the construction of drainage networks. But a few years ago, people of Kamjan village revived part of the wetland by blocking several sections of drainage. Kamjan, Kharameh, Fars, Iran, October, 2018.
Workers are picking tomatoes. Farmers of Korbal and Kharameh who have lost their farmland come to Arsenjan to harvest tomatoes in the summer and autumn. They wake up five in the morning. The distance from the farm to the home of most workers is more than 50 km. Their wages are 60,000 tomans (equals to 4.5 US dollars) a day, for twelve hours of hard work. Arsenjan, Fars, Iran, October, 2018.
Khadije is a fourty-year-old woman who comes to Arsenjan from Abadeh Tashk village at five in the morning to work on a tomato farm. Her daily wages are 60,000 tomans (equals to 4.5 US dollars. Her husband is a farmer and says their water well is dried and they have to work for others. She has to work to support her family. Arsenjan, Fars, Iran, July, 2018
The children of the workers are playing with empty tomato baskets. They come to the tomato farms with their parents because there is no other option for them. Farmers of Korbal and Kharameh who have lost their farmland come to Arsenjan to harvest tomatoes in the summer and autumn. They wake up five in the morning. The distance from the farm to home of most of workers is more than 50 km. Arsenjan, Fars, Iran, 2018.
An empty bus that takes workers every morning from Korbal and Kharameh to fruit and vegetable wholesaler of Shiraz. Korbal and Kharameh are two of the regions that are affected harshly by drying Bakhtegan Lake. Farmers who have lost their farmland come to fruit and vegetable wholesaler of Shiraz every morning and return at noon. Most of them have handy carts and have very little income. Shiraz, Fars, Iran, August, 2018.
A farmer is picking pomegranates in a garden near Tashk Lake. Farmers complain about their water well quality. Due to drying of Bakhtegan, the connection between Lake Tashk and Bakhtegan has disappeared, causing the Tashk Lake to dry up more rapidly. As this process continues, the wells around this lake will first become salty and then bitter. Thus, the water remaining in the wells not only will not benefit the farmers, but also, in the future, will lead to the infertility of agricultural land, forcing farmers to leave the countryside and migrate to the large cities. Almost all of the villagers were not happy with the migration to the cities, although with the deteriorating conditions, migration is the only choice.
A farmer is plowing the land. Shiraz petrochemical plants are seen in the background, which is located as the most polluting industry near the Kor River. Industrial waste release, agricultural waste management, entry of residential and domestic pollutants such as the wastewater of Marvdasht city into the Kor and Sivand rivers exacerbate the crisis. Marvdasht, Fars, Iran, October, 2018.
Fig gardens view of dry farming of Estahban. Dried Bakhtegan are seen in the background. As the lake dries up, there will be no more water vapor rising out of the lake and as a result, the dry farming product will drastically reduce. Estahban, Fars, Iran, October, 2018.
Farmers are harvesting figs in dryland gardens. Fig gardens view of dry farming of Estahban. Dried Bakhtegan are seen in the background. As the lake dries up, there will be no more water vapor rising out of the lake and as a result, the dry farming product will drastically reduce. Estahban, Fars, Iran, September, 2018.
View of the dried bed of Lake Bakhtegan. Dried Salt and particles of dried sediments in floor of the Lake have created environmental and health risk for residents. Neyriz, Fars, Iran, July, 2018.
View of the dried bed of Kor River. Climate changes, drought, construction of Doroudzan, Mollasadra and Sivand Dams, drilling many wells around the Kor and Sivand Rivers, drainage networks construction and governmental mismanagement contributed to the drying of rivers and subsequently Bakhtegan Lake. Marvdasht, Fars, Iran, July, 2018.