Atrak River, once considered one of Iran’s most abundant waterways, has now succumbed to complete dryness due to the disregard for expert warnings. Recent images of the riverbed, shared by media and environmental activists, highlight the severity of the situation, endangering the livelihoods of nearly 25,000 farmers who relied solely on Atrak for water.
The alarm bells for Atrak River began ringing about two decades ago when extensive dam constructions and unchecked exploitation for agricultural and aquaculture purposes took a toll on its vitality. Ignoring warnings from the late ‘90s has resulted in an 80% depletion of the river by 2022, culminating in its complete drying up. This is particularly alarming given that Atrak was the sole source of fresh water in Northeast Iran, providing essential water to numerous cities and at least 800 villages.
Reports suggest that residents around Atrak River now face a dire shortage of piped drinking water. Payam-e Ma newspaper, quoting local experts, notes that the failure to curb water extraction from Atrak River has jeopardized not only the environment but also the economy of the region.
The ramifications of Atrak’s dryness extend beyond its immediate surroundings. Wetlands, once sustained by the river, may transform into centers of environmental pollution and fine dust influx, affecting neighboring provinces like Mazandaran and Semnan. The volume of sewage flowing into Atrak River exacerbates the crisis, potentially turning its streams into foul-smelling canals. Despite warnings persisting for over two decades, the severity of the situation remains largely unacknowledged.
Environmental activists highlight domestic and industrial sewage, coupled with the entry of agricultural poisons, as the primary issues plaguing Atrak River. The dams constructed around the river, intended to manage water resources, not only failed to provide sufficient drinking water to nearby cities and villages but also proved inadequate in flood control, as witnessed during the devastating floods of March 2019.
Atrak River, once the fifth-longest river in Iran spanning 669 km, originates from Hezar Masjed in Razavi Khorasan Province. Its journey through the plains of Quchan, Shirvan, and Bojnurd, eventually reaching the Caspian Sea in the Republic of Turkmenistan, was a critical lifeline for the region. However, in recent years, the river has not even reached Quchan, underscoring the tragic consequences of unchecked environmental degradation and mismanagement.
