Lake Milh

Lake Milh
From space, June 1996
Lake Milh is located in Iraq
Lake Milh
Lake Milh
Coordinates32°45′09″N 43°38′06″E / 32.75250°N 43.63500°E / 32.75250; 43.63500
TypeSaline
Primary inflowsCanal from Lake Habbaniyah, ultimately the Euphrates
Primary outflowsEuphrates River
Basin countriesIraq
Surface area1,562.34 km2 (603.22 sq mi)

Lake Milh (Arabic: بحيرة ملح, romanizedBahr al-Milh, lit.'Sea of Salt'), also known as Lake Razzaza (Arabic: بحيرة الرزازة), is an artificial lake located a few miles west of Karbala, Iraq (32°41′N 43°40′E / 32.683°N 43.667°E / 32.683; 43.667). The lake is located in a depression into which excess water from Lake Habbaniyah, which comes from the Euphrates River, is diverted through a controlled escape channel or canal. The lake is listed as a wetland of international importance.[1] The lake is rather shallow and the water level changes seasonally. Due to its salt content and changing water level, this largest freshwater[contradictory] lake in Iraq has lost its important stock of fish species and only a few recreational areas exist around the lake.[1][2]

  1. ^ a b "Razzaza Lake (Bahr Al Milh)". Birdlife International. Archived from the original on 2014-10-29. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Iraq: Livelihoods at risk as level of Lake Razaza falls". IRIN News. 5 March 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2015.