A Massive Salt Lake Disappears
Turkey really went through it this year. Searing heat, explosive wildfires, floods, an invasion of sea snot. The climate was not kind, and any number of those could’ve made for inclusion on the list!
But the loss of Lake Tuz stands out as a particularly egregious disaster. Much like the western U.S.’s water sources, the lake has been overtaxed for years by industrial operations and farming. Aided by heat and drought, its azure waters turn into a white salt flat over the summer, which was nevertheless shocking. It also ended up being an ecological disaster. The lake is a nesting ground for flamingoes, and this year saw an estimated 1,000 birds die due to the drought conditions afflicting the region. It’s a stark, sad reminder of the way human activities can create unnatural disasters.
