Lake Parishan is one of the largest lakes in Iran in the Middle East that has fresh water but is not edible. This lake was introduced to the world as an international wetland in the Ramsar Convention. If you want to learn more about Lake Parishan, join us on the Hey Persia blog.
Where is Lake Parishan?
Perhaps the first question that comes to our mind about Lake Parishan is its geographical location. This lake is located in the west of Fars Province, 15 kilometers from Kazerun city, in the Jareh and Baladeh district and is on the list of Kazerun sightseeing places. It is located at an altitude of 820 meters above sea level and is one of the protected areas of Iran that can also be visited. The lake is surrounded by the Zagros Mountains. As mentioned, this lake will have the most water in the month of May and its height reaches about 6 meters.
What do you know about Lake Parshan?
As mentioned, Lake Parshan in Fars, with an area of 4,300 hectares, is the largest in the month of Ordibehesht. The lake is surrounded by mountains and is one of the wetlands that has fresh water, but it is not edible. This lake is one of the sustainable ecosystems that was created by tectonic factors and has been able to maintain its conditions for millions of years. Four native fish species live in Lake Parshan in Kazerun, namely the yellowtail, the redfish, the barracuda and the freshwater eel. This international wetland is one of the most important habitats for migratory birds, including storks, flamingos, cranes and pelicans.
Lake Parshan Ecosystem of Fars
Due to the short distance between Lake Parshan and the Arjan Plain and the Chogan Valley, Fars Province officials are trying to turn this triangle into a geopark with a different combination of mountainous, cold and hot, and dry desert climates. In this area, drought and incorrect measures by officials have caused the lake water to decrease significantly, and even permanent drying threatens Lake Parshan. Cowslip and sedge are the most important plant species in this area. They live in this area.
Due to the depletion of groundwater tables in this area and drought, salt-loving plant species such as Gaz have also grown in this area. Turtles are the most famous amphibian species in this lake. Many migratory birds used to come to this international wetland every year. However, due to the unfortunate condition of the lake; the number of migratory birds that migrate to the lake is decreasing every year. The most important migratory birds that come to Lake Parishan in Kazerun are:
- Crane
- Steppe
- Goose
- Duck
Current Status of Lake Parishan in Fars Province
As mentioned, there are several reasons for the poor condition of the lake. There are various reasons that cause Lake Parishan to dry up, which we will mention in this section:
- Increasing temperature
- Decreasing annual rainfall
- Carrying out road construction operations
- Digging unauthorized wells around the lake
- Excessive grazing of livestock
- Weakening of the soil
- Fires in the reeds around the lake
- Vehicle traffic through dry and low-water parts of the lake further weakens the soil.
The best time to visit Lake Parishan is spring, especially in the month of May, when the water volume is at its highest. Of course, if you are interested in bird watching, these areas are worth seeing in the fall and winter.
And finally…
As mentioned, it is possible to visit the lake in the current conditions. But know that a large area of the swamp has become dry and marshy. Although the restoration of this lake will take time and requires proper management, it is possible. If you are planning to travel to Shiraz, the city of beautiful gardens, just join us at Hey Persia Travel Agency. Hey Persia is a safe and different choice for middle-aged people that helps them experience a desirable and different trip with different interests. It is enough to join us once on our Iran tours to become our regular companions. So register and join us.
