study of the water and the mud of urmia lake

the lake of urmia, with the length of 128-144km. and the width of 36.8- 50km., is located in north west of iran at the longitude of 38o ,20' and the latitude of 45 ,10. its area is about 6000km .and the average depth of water is about 6 meters reaching to 16 meters at some points. physical and chemical studies made, show that the water of the lake is colorless and has salty taste. its ph is about 7.the water is very hard and has high electrical conductivity with total residue of 200 gr/lit. the water of lake is classified in hypertonic and cold type of sodium chloride waters, it can be used for the treatmeht of many diseases such as lymphatism, rachitism and articular rhumatism, satisfactorily. the mud of urmia lake has black color and it has a density about 1.70. chemical studies show that the mud is chloride type and contains large amount of hydrogen sulfide compounds and organic matters. from therapeutical point of view, the mud of urmia lake is used for the treatment of locomotor system disorders particularly rhumatism and arthrose locally.