Lake Urmia is situated in northwestern Iran between the two provinces of East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan. It is the largest lake inside Iran and the second largest salt lake in the world after the Dead Sea. Major basin rivers of this hyper saline lake are Zarrineh Rood, Simineh Rood, Gadar, Barandouz, Shahr Chay, Nazlou and Zola.

The basin area of Lake Urmia is 51876 km², 3% of the total area of the country. With fertile plains like those of Piranshahr (Salmas), Urmia, Tabriz, Azarshahr, Maragheh, Miandoab, Mahabad, Naghadeh and Oshnavieh, it is one of the important and active regions of the country for agriculture and animal husbandry.

Lake Urmia is the largest permanent water basin in Western Asia, situated west of the Iranian Plateau. The Lake Urmia National Park is one of the richest, most attractive natural fauna habitats in Iran, second only to the Anzali lagoon. At present, the Lake Urmia wildlife consists of 27 species of mammals, 212 species of birds, 41 species of reptiles, 7 species of amphibians and 26 species of fish.

The lake is marked by 102 islands, all of which have been registered as World Biosphere Reserves by the UNESCO. Ashk Island is the natural habitat for an array of magnificent migratory birds including flamingos and shelducks, as well as some animal species such as the famous Iranian yellow deer. The lakeside mud has been known to have curative properties effective on joint aches and women’s ailments.

The original name of Lake Urmia is Chichast, an ancient Persian word derived from the book of Avesta which means “glittering”, a reference to its glittering mineral particles suspended in the lake water and its shores. The Chichast Lake has been a key element in many Iranian myths, its shore signified as the scene of many important events in Kay-Khosro’s life. The Bahman Fortress, which was conquered by Kay-Khosro in a terrible, gargantuan battle with ogres, has been said to be near this lake.

The name Urmia was later adopted by the Assyrians. “Ur” means “city” in Assyrian, the same component that can be seen in Urshalim (Jerusalem), the City of Peace. “Mia”, on the other hand, is of the same root as “Ma’”, the Arabic word for water, which makes Urmia the City of Water.

During the Pahlavi reign in Iran, the lake was renamed Lake Rezaiyeh after Reza Shah Pahlavi.

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