Shrinking Lakes Across the World Due to Environmental Threats

IN NEWS — Shrinking Lakes Across the World Due to Environmental Threats

Global Concern: Several major lakes around the world are drying up rapidly due to climate change, water diversion, pollution, and unsustainable agricultural practices.
Ecological Impact: The decline in lake water levels is shrinking wildlife habitats, threatening biodiversity, and altering regional microclimates.
Socio-economic Impact: Local livelihoods dependent on fisheries, agriculture, and tourism are under stress, leading to water insecurity and migration pressures in affected regions.
Human Activity: Excessive irrigation withdrawals, river diversions, and mining are aggravating the depletion of these crucial freshwater sources.
Climate Linkage: Prolonged droughts and rising global temperatures have accelerated evaporation rates and reduced replenishment.

Once the second-largest lake in Bolivia, located in the Altiplano region.
Suffered extensive water loss due to climate change, mining, and agricultural diversion.
Impact: Loss of local fisheries, displacement of indigenous communities, and severe damage to the regional ecosystem.

Located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Lost over 90% of its volume mainly due to diversion of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers for irrigation.
Impact: Creation of toxic dust storms, increased desertification, and collapse of local fisheries.

The largest reservoir in the U.S., situated on the Colorado River.
Faces historic water level decline due to prolonged drought, below-average rainfall, and rising demand.
Impact: Threatens water security for millions and affects hydropower generation and ecosystem health.

Shared by Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Cameroon.
Once one of Africa’s largest freshwater lakes, now reduced to a fraction of its size.
Causes: Climate change, droughts, and excessive irrigation use.
Impact: Food and water insecurity, decline in pastoral livelihoods, and loss of biodiversity.

One of the largest saltwater lakes globally, located in northwestern Iran.
Has lost more than 80% of its water volume due to agricultural water extraction and climate-linked droughts.
Impact: Salt storms, collapse of aquatic ecosystems, and socio-economic displacement.

Located between Jordan, Israel, and Palestine.
Water levels declining due to diversion of the Jordan River and industrial mineral extraction.
Impact: Sinkholes, loss of tourism sites, and ecological degradation.

Lake	Location	Type	Primary Cause of Drying
Lake Poopó	Bolivia	Freshwater	Climate change, mining
Aral Sea	Central Asia	Inland saline sea	Irrigation diversion
Lake Mead	USA	Reservoir	Drought, overuse
Lake Chad	Africa	Freshwater	Climate change, water diversion
Lake Urmia	Iran	Saltwater	Agriculture, drought
Dead Sea	Jordan–Israel–Palestine	Salt lake	River diversion

GS Paper 1: Physical Geography – Lakes, Climate Change Impacts.
GS Paper 3: Environment, Disaster Management, Sustainable Resource Use.
Essay / GS Paper 3 Linkage: “Depleting Freshwater Resources – A Global Environmental Crisis.”