Lake Urmia, once one of the world's largest salt lakes, covering around 5,200 square kilometers at its peak, has drastically shrunk over the past few decades. By 2011, its surface area had already dropped to 2,366 square kilometers, and by 2013, it had further reduced to just 700 square kilometers. By autumn 2023, satellite images from NASA's Landsat program showed that the lake was nearly gone, leaving behind a vast white salt crust. Over the past 45 years, the lake's area has decreased by about 90% compared to the early 1970s. This dramatic decline is largely due to the construction of dams on rivers that once fed the lake, along with extensive irrigation of nearby farmland, which has significantly reduced the lake's fresh water supply. If Lake Urmia were to dry completely, it would expose approximately 8 billion tons of salt, though some estimates suggest the amount could be between 6.5 and 10 billion tons, depending on the method of calculation. Once exposed, this salt is picked up by the wind, creating dust storms that can travel up to 370 miles. These "salt tsunamis" have real and damaging effects on the region. They destroy crops, lower agricultural yields, and contaminate groundwater, leading to serious health issues such as cancer, high blood pressure, and respiratory diseases. Studies of the Great Salt Lake in the U.S. have found a 30% rise in skin cancer cases among nearby residents, offering a potential warning of what could happen in the Urmia area. In response to the crisis, Iranian authorities have implemented various measures, including cloud seeding to increase rainfall, transferring water from other regions, and partially restoring some of the lake's tributaries. However, experts say these efforts are not enough to reverse a decline that has been ongoing for nearly 30 years. A former official from Iran’s Environmental Protection Agency has even warned of an extreme scenario: the possible evacuation of nearby cities if salt-laden rains pose a serious health risk. While the lake has seen brief recoveries—such as after heavy rains in 2018 and 2019—these improvements have been temporary. The exposed salt continues to be carried away by the wind, creating ongoing environmental and health challenges. Efforts to restore Lake Urmia face significant hurdles, including the long-term effects of water mismanagement and climate change. Scientists and environmentalists are calling for more comprehensive and sustainable solutions, but the scale of the problem remains daunting. As the salt crust continues to expand, the region faces an uncertain future, with the potential for further ecological and public health crises if the situation is not addressed effectively.