Earth Paints – Between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf – Lake Urmia, Eastern Azerbaijan (photo)

Lake Urmia, Eastern Azerbaijan.

Lake Urmia is a salt lake in northwestern Iran near Iran’s border with Turkey. The lake is between the provinces of Eastern Azerbaijan and Western Azerbaijan, and west of the southern portion of the Caspian Sea. It is the largest lake in the Middle East and the sixth largest saltwater lake on earth with a surface area of approximately 5,200 km² (2,000 mile²), 140 km (87 mi) length, 55 km (34 mi) width, and 16 m (52 ft) depth.

Lake Urmia along with its approximately 102 islands are protected as a national park by the Iranian Department of Environment.