Deserts Of Iran
Iran is an astonishing country in the Middle East. Forests, seas and lakes, lovely waterfalls, and deserts together form a vast and beautiful land called Iran. Almost one-third of Iran consists of deserts. Most of the desert areas are located in the provinces of Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman, South Khorasan, and Semnan.
The entire desert areas of Iran involve two main deserts, and each of the two deserts contains many small deserts. The biggest deserts in Iran are Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut. Dasht-e-Kavir or Kavir Markazi is the widest desert in Iran, which is located in the center of the Iranian plateau. Dasht-e Lut or Lut Desert is one of the warmest places in the world and It is located in the zone between the provinces of South Khorasan, Kerman, and Sistan O Baluchistan.
The blue and starry sky, beautiful and numerous sands, and relaxing silence are the special gifts to the deserts of Iran to the unique tourists of these areas. The best seasons to travel to the desert are early spring, autumn, and winter, and the best time of day to stay in a desert is from sunrise to sunset.
Now we will briefly introduce the deserts of Iran.
Dasht-e Kavir or Kavir Markazi
Somewhere in the central plateau of Iran, Dasht-e Kavir –the biggest salt desert in Iran- is located on the slopes of the Alborz mountain range to the center of Iran in provinces like Qom, Isfahan, Semnan, and South Khorasan. The surface area of this desert is 77,600 square kilometers and 700 meters above sea level.
Well-known deserts such as Band-e Rig, Marajab, Abu Zidaabad, Varzaneh, Khor and Biyabanak, Jandaq, Misr, Garmeh, Chupanan, Rig Jen, Siah Koh, Matin Abad, Zavareh, etc. are located in the heart of the Dasht-e Kavir. Khartoran National Park and Kavir National Park also exist in this desert. The Salt Lake is located in the West of Dasht-e Kavir.
Very cold winters and very hot summers, very little rain, and snow are the main characteristics of this desert. Dasht-e Kavir is also one of the thermal poles of the world. Dasht Kavir is a hot and arid area. Numerous plant species such as trees, shrubs, grasses, and bushes grow in the Dasht-e Kavir. However, this desert lacks vegetation in some places. In some parts of the desert, only tough and salt-loving plants such as halophytes can be seen. Different species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians have been identified in the desert plain. This area is the habitat of Asiatic leopards and other valuable mammals such as sand cats and sand foxes.
Many salt swamplands cover this desert. The edges of the Dasht-e Kavir are covered with scattered dunes. The largest dune in Iran is “Rig Boland” which is somewhere between Aran and Bidgol to Ardestan (it is in Isfahan province). Among all the famous dunes of Rig Boland, we can mention Ashiyane-e Oghab and Tel-e Sheytan-e Zavareh.
Dasht-e Lut or Kavir-e Lut
Dasht-e Lut or Kavir-e Lut is in the southeast of Iran, in the area amid the provinces of South Khorasan, Sistan O Baluchestan, and Kerman. Chale Lut, Dasht-e Lut, Kavir-e Lut, and Biyaban-e Lut are different names for this area. Most of this desert is created of sandy fields and only a small part of it is desert. The surface area of Dasht-e Lut is about 51800 square kilometers. Dasht-e Lut is in fourth place of the largest desert in the world. Dasht-e Lut is one of the very hot and arid areas of the world, so it was recognized as the hottest place in the world from 2004 to 2009. The lovely and rare Klots of Shahdad Kerman, which are considered one of the most beautiful natural areas in the world, and Klot Amut are located on this plain. The record of the hottest place in the world for several consecutive years, the presence of the tallest and longest cliffs in the world in this area, and other unique natural features of Dasht-e Lut led to the registration of this area as a natural effect in the UNESCO World Heritage.
Band-e Rig
Band-e Rig, Band-e Rig Desert, or Kavir-e Band-e Rig, is a huge strip in the shape of a horseshoe facing the east. Band-e Rig includes three areas Rig-e Boland, Posht Rig, and Maranjab. Band Rig is one of the large central deserts of Iran, which starts from Jazire-e Sargardan in the south of Isfahan Namak Lake and continues to Abu Zidabad. Band-e Rig is confined to the Maranjab desert and Namak Lake from the north, Abu Zeidabad from the south, Pusht Rig desert from the east, and cities like Kashan, Aran, and Bidgol from the west.
Maranjab Desert
Maranjab desert is one of the prettiest desert areas in Iran placed in Isfahan province, north of Aran and Bidgol cities. Maranjab is surrounded by the Masileh desert and Hoz-e Sultan’s salt lakes from the west, Band-e Rig desert, and Kavir National Park from the east, Namak Lake from the north, and Aran and Bidgol cities from the south. This desert is a part of the Kavir-e Markazi of Iran or Dasht-e Kavir. The entrance gate and access route to the Maranjab desert is Ab Shirin village the road toward Tehran. The vegetation of this desert, like the rest of the desert, is mostly composed of salt-loving plants, namely: gaz trees, haloxylon shrubs, skanbi, Ghich shrubs, etc. Due to the plenty of water and food sources in this area, the fauna is also very diverse. Animals such as cheetahs, sand foxes, sand cats, jackals, wolves, chameleons, eagles, falcons, tiho, etc. live in this area.
Beautiful sad dunes, white salt lakes of Aran and Bidgol, Maranjab caravanserai (Safavid era), Tagh forests, and Jazire-e Sargardan are among the must-seeing places in the Maranjab desert.
Abu-Zidabad Desert
In the north of Abu-Zidabad village and 38 kilomes of northeast of Kashan, the bone-dry desert of Abu_Zidabad is located. This desert is part of Band-e Rig and in the Kavir-e Markazi of Iran. To access this place to underground water tables, more vegetation can be seen here than in other parts of the desert. Animals like sand foxes, falcons, rabbits, jackals, wolves, etc. constitute the wildlife of the Abu-Zidabad desert.
Off-roading, motorcycling, staring at stars at night and camel riding are among the desert activities that can be experienced.
Siazga(Rig Siyah) is a desert in the north of Abu-Zidabad, known for its attractive dunes and black landscapes. Karshahi Castle is an elegant monument in the heart of Abu-Zidabad desert. This castle is the second adobe monument in Iran after the Arg-e Bam and belongs to the pre-Islamic era.
Varzaneh Desert
In the east of Isfahan province and at the eastern end of Zayandeh Rud, in a region of about 170 square kilometers, the stunning Varzaneh desert is located. The distance from Varzaneh desert to Isfahan is 117 km and to Yazd is 150 km. Gavkhouni wetland is located in the east of this desert.
Varzaneh desert is 10 kilometers away from Varzaneh city which is the reason why the desert is called Varzaneh desert. The biggest desert recreational area is in this place. The pleasure of walking on the soft and hot sands of the desert, watching the not repeatable sunrises and sunsets of the desert, riding camels, sand riding, buggy riding, zip line, and off-roading are some of the common activities of the Varzaneh desert.
Jandaq
Jandaq desert is located 350 km northeast of Isfahan. Jandaq is a biyabanak of Dasht-e Kavir and is placed near Khor city. This ancient desert has a history of more than a thousand years. In the north of Jandaq, an adobe castle from the Sassanid era that you must see. One of the magical and beautiful places in Jandaq is The Mesr Desert.
Mesr Desert
Mesr village, or Mesr Desert is on the road from Damghan to Nayin and Isfahan, 60 kilometers from Khor in Isfahan province. The greenery of this beautiful desert, a deep well of clean water in the middle of the desert, vast and green reeds, motorcycling, camel riding, staying in restored old houses of the village are some of the attractions of the Mesr Desert. The dark and clear sky of the Mesr Desert is a good place to observe the stars and watch the beauty of the nights in the desert.
Garmeh
Garmeh is a lovely village in the Dasht-e Kavir, which has thousand years, on the eastern side of Isfahan province and placed 30 km from Khor. Citizens of Garmeh speak Pahlavi. Mineral water springs, green fields, herds of camels in the corners of the Garmeh Desert, wide sand fields with eye-catching flowing sand, the beautiful grove of Garmeh, and houses that look at the grove. Meandrous roads, Astudan Gabrha, the ancient castle (belonging to the Sassanid era), with noble and polite people, make the beauty of this desert even more. Garmeh can also be called a paradise desert. Fruits like dates, grapes, apricots, oranges, pistachios, and almonds are planted here.
Chopanan Desert
Choupanan village is 95 kilometers away from the east of Anarak, and it’s one of the areas around Nain in Isfahan province. Choupanan village leads to Anarak from the west, Khor from the east, Rig-e Jenn and Semnan province from the north, and Yazd from the south. Choupanan village is named after a well that had been in this place before the village existed. Shepherds and herdsmen used this well to water their animals. The aqueduct dug in this village is the foundation stone of this village. People in this area became farmers after digging the aqueducts and an abundance of water was brought into this place.
At a distance of 45 km from Choupanan, there is Madan-e Nakhlak which is 2000 years old. Next to it, there is a fortress and a four-arched shrine that is from the Sasanid era.
Rig-e Jenn Desert
Rig-e Jenn Desert is an area covered with dunes and salty swamps located in the south and southwest of Dasht-e Kavir and the east of Kavir National Park. The region of Rig-e Jenn desert is 3800 square kilometers. Access to this desert is possible through Semnan, Garmsar, Anarak, and Jandaq.
There are many myths about why this area was named “Rig-e Jenn”. But it seems hard to reach the middle of the desert, the existence of many swamps and dunes over the years are some of the reasons for naming this desert “Rig-e Jenn. The sound of the rocks crushing due to the extreme temperature difference between days and nights, which is known as the “crying of rocks”, can also be one of the reasons for this name.
Kavir-e Siah Kuh
Kavir-e Siah or Aqda is located in the Kavir-e Markazi of Iran, and 40 km away from Ardakan, Yazd province. Kavir-e Siah is shaped like a moon.
Because of the lack of access to fresh water, there is no specific flora and fauna in the desert. But on the edge of the desert, you can find various plants and animals. Kavir-e Siah leads from the north to the heights of Anarak, from the south to Kuh-e Namak and Gerigon, and from the west to the deserts of Nain and Nognbad. The salt marshes and swamps of this desert are located in the southern part of it.
Aghda Desert is windier than other desert places. Like other Iranian deserts, there is a very temperature difference between day and night.
Matin Abad Desert
Matin Abad village is a part of Natanz in the north of Isfahan province. Matin Abad is 45 kilometers away from the south of Kashan and is the last village on the edge of Dasht-e Kavir. The temperature difference in this desert is from -12 to +46 degrees Celsius in the cold and hot seasons.
Vegetation of Matin Abad is more than in other deserts of Dasht-e Kavir. Plants such as gaz, milkvetch, haloxylon, pteropyrum, and sedges grow in this area. Animals such as black rabbit, tiho, raven, swallow, and Asian cheetah also make up a wonderful fauna of this area.
Among the entertainments of this desert, you can take pictures in the desert, see the stars and watch the night sky, climb to the Yakhab, and watch Namak Lake, Band-e Rig, and Kershahi desert. Other activities that are common in the Matin Abad are camel riding, riding four-wheel motor, and off-roading.
The best time to travel to the Matin Abad desert is from the end of summer to early winter and spring. The roadway to Matin Abad is through Qom to Kashan highway. After passing through Badroud and Khalidabad and Deh Abad and Safi villages, you’ll see Matin Abad.
Kalut Shahdad Desert
Shahdad is one of the oldest human civilizations. Shahdad is one of the cities of Kerman province, between Dasht-e Lut and Dasht-e Kerman, which is located 96 kilometers northeast of Kerman and on the western of Dasht-e Lut. Kaluts of Shahdad is located in this area.
Shahdad area is surrounded by Khorasan province from the north, desert areas and kaluts of Shahdad from the northeast, Golbaft from the south, Sistan and Baluchistan province from the east, and the center of Kerman from the west. Kanaran Mountain, Shahdad Mountain, and Sirch village are in the southwest and Kuh-e Biaban is located in the northwest of Shahdad. Derakhtengan River, which comes from the mountain of Drakhtangan village; Provides permanent water to Shahdad.
With an area of about 11,000 square kilometers, Shahdad Kaluts are located 80 kilometers in width and 145 kilometers in length in Dasht-e Lut. The distance from Shahdad Desert to Dasht-e Lut is about 30 kilometers from the east. Shahdad desert is 430 meters above sea level. This region is considered one of the thermal poles of the earth.
From the ancient artifacts found in this desert, archaeologists believe that Kulot Shahdad dates back to the 2nd and 3rd millennium BC. They believe that this region was a human habitat and they think that it is possible that the destruction of human societies in this region happened because of climate changes like the occurrence of a devastating flood.
Vegetation is almost non-existent in Kaluts and Shahdad Desert. Gaz bushes can be seen at the beginning of the desert. The more we go far from the beginning of the Shahdad Desert to the inner side of it and Kaluts, the vegetation becomes sparser. Because there are no plants that can be found among the kaluts. The reason for this, if for the type of soil, high salinity, salts in the soil, and windstorms that happened in this place. In the middle of Dasht-e Lut an area of 30 30,000 square kilometers, it is called Hayat-e Khamosh, and the reason no living thing lives in this area.
The only river in this area is the Rudshur. It comes from the northwest mountains of Birjand (the capital of South Khorasan province). The salt hexagons or polygons around Namak Lake and near the Shahdad caves are among other natural phenomena of this place. Additionally, one of the most unique natural phenomena in the world is a 100-hectare salt flat in the shape of a boiling egg in the Shahdad Desert.
Watching the night sky, off-roading, four-wheel motorcycle riding, safari and photography in the desert are some of the entertainments in this area. Many ancient monuments are left from the second millennium BC to the Islamic era, such as ancient cemeteries, stone mills, water storage, caravanserais, and castles. You have to visit these places. Darfesh Shahdad – the oldest metal flag in the world – was also founded in Shahdad.
The extraordinary peace and relaxation of the desert and the beautiful nature of this region have always hosted foreign desert lovers and nature lovers. The best time to visit Shahdad’s caves is autumn and winter. Kalut-e Shahdad is separated into three parts: green, orange, and red. Visiting the green area does not require a permit and is open to everyone. The orange and red parts require having a permit and a cicerone escort.
You can visit Kalut through the Kerman-Bam road and after passing through Sirch village.
