Tharthar Lake and Dhebaeji Field

Tharthar Lake and Al-Dhebaeji Fields is a reserve in central Iraq combining about 80,000 ha of the north-eastern part of Lake Tharthar with a large adjacent area of semi-desert to the east of about 375,000 ha. It lies between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, roughly 100 km northwest of Baghdad^[1].

Lake Tharthar is a major wintering ground for migratory birds, including the saker falcon, MacQueen's bustard and sociable lapwing, with 54 bird species recorded^[1]. Golden jackals are regularly seen, striped hyenas and caracals have been reported locally, and about ten fish species have been found^[1].

About 38 plant species are known from aquatic, flooded, marsh and desert-shrub habitats, including reedbeds of common reed^[1].

The Tharthar depression formed during the Holocene, mainly through karstification as nearby gypsum rock of the Fatha Formation dissolved^[1].

The surrounding steppe and semi-desert is dry, and the lake's water level swings sharply with the Tigris floodwater diverted into it^[1].

The surrounding area is one of Iraq's important grazing lands, with wheat and corn fields^[1].

Lake Tharthar was created in 1956 by turning the southern part of the depression into a reservoir for Tigris floodwater^[1].

The lake itself, up to 120 km long and 48 km wide, is the main feature^[1].

The lake sits about 100 km northwest of Baghdad^[1].

The lake stores excess Tigris floodwater in the flood season and releases it to the Tigris and Euphrates in dry periods through the Taksim Tharthar Canal^[1].