The water level of the Caspian Sea has fallen to its lowest point in about 200 years.

Axar.az reports, citing Iranian media, that the head of Iran’s Mazandaran Department of Environmental Protection said that climate change has significantly affected the Caspian, with water temperatures rising by about 1.5°C over the past two decades and evaporation increasing by 10–15%.

He said about 25% of the Caspian’s water comes from rainfall and 75% from rivers, with the Volga River alone accounting for around 80% of the inflow.

Kanani said the Caspian’s water level is currently falling by around 10–20 centimeters annually. He warned that continued decline could affect coastal communities, infrastructure and ecosystems, including coastal wetlands.

He stressed that the falling water level should be treated as a multidimensional issue with environmental, economic and social consequences.