Lake Tharthar
Encyclopedia
Lake Tharthar, known in Iraq
as Buhayrat ath Tharthar , is a lake
situated 120 kilometers north of Baghdad
between the Tigris
and the Euphrates
rivers. It is the largest lake in Iraq. The construction of several dams has made it an important source for irrigation. Its size shrinks and expands dramatically with the seasons. The lake is deep and nutrient poor; there is very little vegetation except for sparse shrubs, some dense patches of growth and scattered Ziziphus
trees. The area is farmed thanks to the use of tube-wells. A few sheep also graze in the area. The lake is threatened due to overfishing. This area was known colloquially as Wadi Tharthar.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
as Buhayrat ath Tharthar , is a lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
situated 120 kilometers north of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
between the Tigris
Tigris
The Tigris River is the eastern member of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of southeastern Turkey through Iraq.-Geography:...
and the Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
rivers. It is the largest lake in Iraq. The construction of several dams has made it an important source for irrigation. Its size shrinks and expands dramatically with the seasons. The lake is deep and nutrient poor; there is very little vegetation except for sparse shrubs, some dense patches of growth and scattered Ziziphus
Ziziphus
Ziziphus is a genus of about 40 species of spiny shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae, distributed in the warm-temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world. The leaves are alternate, entire, with three prominent basal veins, and long; some species are deciduous,...
trees. The area is farmed thanks to the use of tube-wells. A few sheep also graze in the area. The lake is threatened due to overfishing. This area was known colloquially as Wadi Tharthar.