5. Bakhtegan Lake
Area: 1,351 mi²
Basin countries: Iran
Bakhtegan Lake is raked fifth in our list of the largest saltwater lakes in the world. This lake bears witness to the destructive side of development. Lake Bakhtegan used to be the second largest lake by surface area and the largest saline lake in Iran. However, in recent years several dams built by the Iranian government have caused the lake to dry up, and also increased the salinity of the water. This, in turn, has made all the species the lake supported endangered in the area – especially the flamingos and other migratory birds.
