A remaining pond at the dried-up Sawa Lake on the edge of Iraq’s western desert. AFP
A street sign for Sawa Lake. A sharp drop in rainfall –now only at 30 per cent of what used to be normal for the region – has lowered the underground water table, said a senior advisor at Iraq's water resources ministry. AFP
Hotels and tourist facilities near Sawa Lake have been abandoned. AFP
Dry, arid landscape remains. AFP
What's left of hotel accommodation. AFP
Iraq's Sawa Lake was once a popular tourist destination. AFP
What was once a tourist hotspot now stands empty. AFP
Parts of Sawa Lake are completely dry. AFP
Bottles and plastic bags litter what was once a luscious lake. AFP
What was once a lake is now dry, arid landscape. AFP
Lake Milh, also known as Razzaza Lake, in Iraq's central province of Karbala is also facing the perils of drought. AFP
Dead fish litter Iraq's Lake Milh. AFP
Human activity and climate change have combined to turn the site into a barren wasteland with piles of salt. AFP
This aerial view shows horses running in Lake Milh. AFP
Sawa Lake is now dry due to years of drought. AFP
A remaining pond at the dried-up Sawa Lake on the edge of Iraq’s western desert. AFP
A street sign for Sawa Lake. A sharp drop in rainfall –now only at 30 per cent of what used to be normal for the region – has lowered the underground water table, said a senior advisor at Iraq's water resources ministry. AFP
Hotels and tourist facilities near Sawa Lake have been abandoned. AFP
Dry, arid landscape remains. AFP
What's left of hotel accommodation. AFP
Iraq's Sawa Lake was once a popular tourist destination. AFP
What was once a tourist hotspot now stands empty. AFP
Parts of Sawa Lake are completely dry. AFP
Bottles and plastic bags litter what was once a luscious lake. AFP
What was once a lake is now dry, arid landscape. AFP
Lake Milh, also known as Razzaza Lake, in Iraq's central province of Karbala is also facing the perils of drought. AFP
Dead fish litter Iraq's Lake Milh. AFP
Human activity and climate change have combined to turn the site into a barren wasteland with piles of salt. AFP
This aerial view shows horses running in Lake Milh. AFP
