'Persia Intelligence Report. May, 1946' [‎37v] (74/80)

72
(B) PORTS
[Part V—continued]
LAKE URMIA
General Remarks
Situated in North-West Persia in the province of Azerbaijan, about 45 miles from the Turkish
frontier this lake, which is the fourth largest land-locked body of water in Asia, is 88 miles long and
44 miles wide. There is a number of rocky islands dotted along the eastern shore but the bottom is
said to be soft mud throughout and the beaches all round consist for the most part of gradually shelving
salt mud flats. The only exception to this is at Gurmeh Khaneh, where there is an outcrop of rock
near the harbour and the foreshore is littered with small rocks, which, however, do not extend more
than 20 or 30 ft. into the lake.
The level of the lake is subject to seasonal variations dependent on the rain and snow fall within
the watershed which serves it and the subsequent evaporation of the lake during the dry season.
The extreme limits are 6 ft. 0 in. to 3 ft. 0 in. on normal, but the variation in any given year
rarely exceeds 3 ft. 0 in.; according to records the lake is gradually receding, the extreme high levels
not having been experienced for many years now. At September, 1942, the level was 2 ft. 0 in. on
normal and was not expected to alter considerably until the November-December rains when levels
rise until the maximum for the year would be reached in March-April.
The lake is said to be 40 ft. deep in parts and during high winds becomes choppy, particularly on
the western side, but rarely rough enough to prevent the existing craft from plying—although naturally
voyage times are considerably extended under adverse conditions.
The high salt content of the lake (approximately 20 per cent.) has a corrosive action on the steel
craft (noticeably on the rivets) which results in rapid wear and high maintenance. When the
temperature falls below zero, as it frequently does between mid-December and mid-February, there is
a tendency for the salt to cake on the hulls and propellers of the vessels and therefore retard progress
to such an extent that it is sometimes necessary to stop and chip off the salt.
No moorings are available anywhere in the lake and craft ride at anchor off shore.
Ports
There are five small ports situated around the lake-, but of these only three are of any consequence.
They are Haiderabad, which serves Oushni-Maghadi (Sulduz Area), Sharif Khaneh, the terminus of
the railway from Tabriz, and Gurmeh Khaneh (or Golman Khaneh) which is the port for the town of
Urmia (Rezaieh). The other two, Khantakhti and Danalu serve occasionally as ports of shipment
for local produce.
Port facilities are practically non-existent. Merchandise is loaded on to the steamers and barges
by dock labourers carrying the goods on their backs.
All roads leading to these ports are reported to be good, they include the following :—
Urmia-Shahpoor-Khoi-Marend-Tabriz, reported to be suitable for motor traffic.
Urmia—Maghadeh, reported to be in good condition. The road divides into two sections, one
section going to Oushni and the other to Khaneh on the Iraq frontier.
Mahabad—Sakiz—Hamadan—Kermanshah, reported to be in good condition.
Another road, reported to have been recently completed is that from Urmia to the Turkish
frontier, passing through the small Kurd village, Gougazi.
GURMEH KHANEH (or GORMAN KHANEH)
(a) THE PORT
(1) General
Situated mid-way on the western side of the lake, 36 miles by water from Haiderabad, the water
has not apparently receded as there are no mud flats. There is a bi-weekly night service to
Sharif Khaneh. Coolie A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. labour is available from the town of Rezaieh, 12 miles distant and from the
surrounding villages.
(7) Quayage, Cranage and Clearance from Quays
There is a jetty 564 ft. in length, with a depth of water at the end of 9 ft. in the dry season.
The foreshore shelves here far more rapidly than at Haiderabad and the jetty is therefore
comparatively short. J
A DecauviUe railway (2 ft 6 in.) runs the whole length of the jetty which is also used by 3-ton
lorries. A few lorries are available. Russian Army M.T. were used during the war.
the lake 16 ^ ^ adeqUate supply of fresh water which is Piped alon g the jetty for use by the vessels on
The road to Rezaieh is reported to be quite good.
(9) Harbour Craft
See Sharif Khaneh.
(16) Estimated Daily Capacity
It is estimated that the port could, if necessary,
to discharging normal south-bound traffic. Labour is
where large numbers of coolies A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory. are available.
discharge 500 tons per 24-hour day in addition
obtained fi om Rezaieh and surrounding villages,