Lake Jabbūl

Lake Jabbul lies in a shallow closed basin southeast of Aleppo, surrounded by the dry plains of northern Syria. Its waters rise and retreat with the seasons, leaving broad salt flats when the shallows dry. Springs, rainfall and runoff from surrounding valleys feed the basin, and reeds grow around the marshy margins. The salt of Jabbul has long been gathered as a valuable local resource, while the wetlands provide resting places for migratory birds.