MNA � Lake Urmia�s water level has increased by seven centimeters compared to the same period last year, according to Farhad Sarkhosh, the head of Urmia Lake Restoration Project.







Speaking to IRNA on Saturday, Sarkhosh maintained that the water level of Lake Urmia in northwest Iran reached 1,270.24 meters on November 3, which shows a 7cm increased compared to the same period last year, which was registered at 1,270.17 meters.

He also noted that the lake covers 1,661 sq. km of waterbed as of Nov. 3, which indicates a 156 sq. km expansion on the same date of last year.

The volume of water has increased by 89 million sq. meters, reaching nearly 1 billion sq. meters this year, he added.

Sarkhosh maintained that before the formation of the Urmia Lake Restoration Project, the lake�s water level would decrease by an average of 40cm a year.

He also added that several projects for transferring water to Lake Urmia will come on stream next year, which will have a remarkable impact on the revival process.

Lake Urmia, located between East and West Azarbaijan provinces, began drying up in the mid 2000s. According to international statistics, the lake lost about 80% of its waterbed by 2015.