Lake Urmia is located on the northwest of Iran in Azerbaijan Region. It is the biggest lake inside Iran and the second great salt-water lake in the world. In old Persian, Lake Urmia was called Chichast means resplendent and it was due to the minerals on its banks that were founds as crystals. Lake Urmia is the habitat of 212 bird species, 41 reptile species, 7 amphibious species, and 27 mammal species including Persian fallow deer. Having over a hundred small and big rock islands, this lake is the stopping place for migrating birds including flamingo, pelican, spoonbill, ibis, stork, shelduck, avocet, stilt, and gull. Lake Urmia has been registered as a protected ecosystem by UNESCO.