The Director General of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Mazandaran - Noshahr reported that over 1.5 million cubic meters of the western Mazandaran coast has dried up due to the retreat of the Caspian Sea. Mehrdad Khazaei Pool told the Tasnim news agency that Noor, Noshahr, Tonekabon, Abbasabad, Chalous, and Ramsar are among the coastal counties of western Mazandaran. On the first day of Bahman, Ali Beitollahi, head of the 'Vulnerability Section of the Road and Urban Development Research Center' announced the continued retreat of the Caspian Sea water, stating that this event has caused land subsidence along the Mazandaran coast and endangered Amirabad Port. In August of this year, Ali Salajegheh, head of the Environmental Protection Organization of the Islamic Republic, announced that 'the water level of the Caspian Sea is decreasing because neighboring countries have blocked the rivers flowing into the sea.' Reports indicate that the main source of water for the Caspian Sea is the 'Volga River,' which Russia uses for agricultural development. Previously, Ali Salajegheh emphasized that 'according to some statistics and information, the Caspian Sea has retreated about one meter in the past five years, and if these conditions continue, the northern sea of Iran will retreat on average by 20 centimeters annually.' In the early months of this year, Kazakh government officials also expressed concern over the declining water level of the Caspian Sea, leading the mayor of the port city of Aktau to declare a state of emergency due to this event and its serious risks for the maritime industry in this province of Kazakhstan. A road ministry official stated: 'The decrease in the Caspian Sea water has led to increased land subsidence in Mazandaran.' A trade official mentioned that Russia 'will not allow' Iran to extract from the 'Sardar Jangal' gas field. The agreement for the construction of the Miankaleh petrochemical plant has been canceled. Water scarcity, land subsidence, and the risk of the Caspian Sea's destruction reflect the dire environmental situation during the presidency of Ebrahim Raisi. A member of parliament noted that in some areas, the Caspian Sea has retreated by about 100 to 120 meters.
Retreat of the Caspian Sea; Parts of the Western Mazandaran Coast Have Dried Up
The Caspian Sea's retreat has caused over 1.5 million cubic meters of the western Mazandaran coast to dry up, impacting local communities and industries. Key officials have attributed this decline to neighboring countries blocking rivers and have warned of severe environmental consequences. This situation poses significant risks to Iran's coastal economy and environmental stability.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The western Mazandaran coast has experienced significant drying due to the retreat of the Caspian Sea, with over 1.5 million cubic meters of land affected. Officials attribute this decline to neighboring countries blocking rivers that feed into the sea.
- The Caspian Sea has reportedly retreated about one meter in the past five years.
- Land subsidence and environmental risks are increasing, threatening local economies and infrastructure.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed inland body of water on Earth, and its health is vital for the surrounding countries' economies and ecosystems. Environmental issues are exacerbated by geopolitical tensions and resource management disputes.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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