Overuse and Climate Change Kill off Iraq's Sawa Lake

A meagre pond is all that remains of the once flourishing wetlands known as Sawa Lake in southern Iraq's al-Muthanna province (AFP/Asaad NIAZI)

A "No Fishing" sign on the edge of Iraq's western desert is one of the few clues that this was once Sawa Lake, a biodiverse wetland and recreational landmark.

Human activity and climate change have combined to turn the site into a barren wasteland with piles of salt, AFP said.