This study examines the distribution of water resources in Protected Areas in Iran and their priority for conservation. The results show that most of the water resources are located in the north and northwest of Iran due to favorable climatic conditions, topography, ambient temperature, and annual rainfall levels. Conversely, the lowest amount of water resources are located in the center and southeast of the country. Water resources were prioritized based on expert ratings of indicators to determine their value for conservation. The wetland with the highest priority for conservation is the Anzali Wetland (Gilan province), which is an international Ramsar Wetland. Conversely, Namak Lake (Qom province) was deemed the least important due to its geographical location, biological sensitivity, and conservation status. Protected Areas were found to support more surface water resources and provide space for the largest percentage of water resources, demonstrating their great value for protecti
The largest lake ever to exist on Earth – the Paratethys megalake – suffered a disaster that killed off most of its lifeforms less than 10 million years ago, a new study says.
At its vastest, Paratethys had a surface area of more than a million square miles (2.8 million square km) – slightly larger than the present-day Mediterranean Sea, according to a team led by experts at Utrecht University, Netherlands.
For a modern day comparison, Paratethys would stretch from the eastern Alps to what is now Kazakhstan in central Asia.
It also contained a water volume of more than 1.77 million km3 – representing more than a third the volume of the Mediterranean today.
Paratethys, once the world’s largest lake inhabited by ancient mini dolphins and whales, dwindled to nothing over a series of drying crises that took place less than 10.