Lake Habaniyah was once a famous tourist attraction near Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, and attracts a large number of tourists every year. However, in recent years, due to factors such as reduced rainfall and rising temperatures, the amount of water in Lake Habaniya has plummeted, and the surrounding beauty is no longer available, and tourists are rarely frequented.
In the late 70s of the 20th century, Lake Habaniyah in Iraq was a famous summer resort in the local area and even the Middle East.
Now, years of drought have receding Lake Harbaniyah's water level, and the lake's water storage has fallen from a peak of 3.3 billion cubic meters a few years ago to less than 500 million cubic meters today. The original wide and clear lake gradually disappeared from view.
Mohammed, a local businessman: Last year and in previous years, residents and tourists alike came here. But now the lake has dwindled and has almost dried up.
The most immediate effect of the lake drying up is that the local tourism industry is in a depression. In the past, many merchants who depended on tourism in the lake and surrounding areas struggled.
Treasurer of Lake Habaniyah Resort Saada: In previous years, when this time of year, the resort's rooms would be full and the lakeside would be crowded. But now you see, tourism is in a depression.
Iraq has been listed by the United Nations as one of the countries most affected by climate change, and persistent heat and drought have led to severe water shortages in the country. Khalid al-Shemar, a spokesman for Iraq's Ministry of Water Resources, recently warned that Iraq's water reserves have fallen to their lowest point in nearly a century.
During a visit to Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, last week, U.N. officials said extreme heat, persistent drought and the resulting environmental changes were a wake-up call for Iraq and the world.
Source: CCTV News Client