Turkey’s biggest lake under risk due to drought: Experts

Drought caused by climate change and the decrease in precipitation have affected the basin of Lake Van, the water sources, agriculture and animal husbandry in the region, experts have warned.

"Heat rose, while precipitation decreased in the last decade," Faruk Alaeddinoğlu, a professor from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, told state-run Anadolu Agency.

According to Alaeddinoğlu, high temperatures cause vaporization and "the rate of vaporization is four times higher than the precipitation in the region."

"Therefore, the sea levels in the lakes have been falling, leading to a serious loss of water in the basin."

Noting that drought is not only a problem impacting only Turkey, but also the world, Alaeddinoğlu stressed that stringent measures need to be taken.

Murat Tunçtürk, the dean of the agricultural faculty of the same university, also said special attention should be paid to the consumption of water.

"According to this year's climate data, the precipitation received by the Lake Van basin dropped by 12 percent when compared to the previous year and by 33 percent when compared to the average of many years," he said.

"The plants of the wheat and barley fields are not growing taller or do not have enough grains in them," he added.

"What we, as individuals, have to do is, save on water," Tunçtürk suggested.

The academic also stressed on the financial impacts of the drought on the region.

The loss of crops will have a negative impact on the economy, according to Tunçtürk.

"Costs will increase in animal husbandry and agriculture. It will lead to an increase in food prices. Farmers should pick plants that are resistant towards water shortage," he added.

[HH] 'No worries'

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