Razzaza Lake

Razzaza Lake, also called Bahr al-Milh ("Sea of Salt"), lies a few miles west of Karbala in Iraq and covers about 1,562 km²^[1].

BirdLife International designated the lake an Important Bird Area; it hosts wintering waterfowl, breeding marbled ducks, and waders and shorebirds on migration^[1]. Reported mammals include Rüppell's fox, golden jackal, Indian grey mongoose, jungle cat and wildcat^[1].

The surroundings hold reeds, salt-tolerant grasses and shrubs, and desert shrubland^[1].

The lake sits in a natural depression^[1].

The climate is arid, and hot summers drive high evaporation; with little inflow the salinity rises^[1].

Rising salinity reduced fish populations and hurt local fishermen; by 2008 only the al-Shanik fish (Acanthopagrus arabicus), a marine species stocked by the government, was reported to survive^[1].

The lake is artificial, created in the late 1970s to control floodwaters of the Euphrates^[1].

Algae colour the water, with green areas less salty than red ones^[1].

Fluctuating water levels, rising salinity, the desert surroundings and low cliff shores limit recreational use^[1].

The lake is fed by excess water from Lake Habbaniyah through a controlled channel; when no overflow arrives, most of the lakebed is exposed and salinity climbs^[1].