Dasht-e Lut Desert Introduction of Lut Desert The Lut Desert also called Kavir-e Lut, or Dasht-e-Lut Desert is the second desert of Iran in terms of vastness, and is located in the southeast of the country. It is the world's 27th largest desert, and was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List on July 17, 2016. It stretches about 480 kilometers (300 mi) long and 320 kilometers (200 mi) wide. A huge mass of dunes and sand rises in the east, while in the west an extensive area of high ridges is separated by wind-swept corridors. At its lowest salt-filled depression, less than 1,000 feet (300 meters) above sea level, the summer heat and low humidity are believed to be unsurpassed on the planet. Between June and October, this arid subtropical area is swept by strong winds, which transport sediment and cause aeolian erosion on a colossal scale. Consequently, the site presents some of the most spectacular examples of aeolian yardang landforms (massive corrugated ridges). Gandom Beryan in Lut Desert It also contains extensive stony deserts and dune fields. The property represents an exceptional example of ongoing geological processes. NASA research results suggest that Gandom Beryan in the Lut Desert is one of the hottest places on Earth. According to satellite data from NASA in 2005, a surface temperature of 70.7 degrees Celsius was recorded here. This temperature is the highest temperature ever recorded by satellite from the surface of planet Earth. That’s why it’s called the ‘2005 point’. Altitude in Lut Desert The lowest point of the property in Lut is found at 117 metres above sea level, in the northeast of the Yardangs region, while the highest point, in the sand dunes of Rig-e Yallan, reaches 475 metres. Mountains in Lut
Dasht-e Lut Desert Introduction of Lut Desert The Lut Desert also called Kavir-e Lut, or Dasht-e-Lut Desert is the second desert of Iran in terms of vastness, and is located in the southeast of the country. It is the world’s 27th largest desert, and was inscribed on UNESCO‘s World Heritage List on July 17, 2016.
Iran Off the Beaten Track Iran is a vast country with a lot of untravelled routes. Many adventurous travellers would like to visit pristine places with natural wonders. Iran has numerous destinations not mentioned in any guide book or travel blogs. In fact, second and third-time visitors usually prefer to explore the hidden spots of the country to witness the real lifestyle of people and experience something exceptional. Depending on when you travel to Iran, time available, and the type of attractions you are interested in, there are many Off the Beaten places to choose from and explore. In addition, if you like to have an action-packed travel or combine it with your cultural-historical exploration, you have even more choices. One of the quite unexplored regions is Sistan and Baluchestan province located in the southeast, the largest province of Iran containing the only active volcano mountain, (MT Taftan), meaning ‘Burnt city’, (a UNESCO site). Along the coast of the Persian Gulf which accesses the Indian ocean, special Baluchi people live who have a distinctive culture and lifestyle compared to the rest of the country. Unique music, spicy sea food, mangrove forests, fishing villages, a mud volcano, banana farms, and Mars mountains are special attractions. Baluchestan, Chabahar port and the Indian ocean coast is one of the short and famous tours that we offer in Adventure Iran for some parts of this region. The Iranian Kurdistan region is also one of the regions where people don’t often travel. Most tourists visit a couple of villages which are just mentioned in the guidebooks without having much of an idea about the rest of the region. Kurdistan is a large province with numerous villages scattered in rural areas. People are one of the main attractions here and, of course, the most pure
Iran Off the Beaten Track Iran is a vast country with a lot of untravelled routes. Many adventurous travellers would like to visit pristine places with natural wonders. Iran has numerous destinations not mentioned in any guide book or travel blogs. In fact, second and third-time visitors usually prefer to explore the hidden spots of
Iran Deserts Iran DesertsThe deserts in Iran are probably its main attraction. These deserts are vast and spectacular covering 25% of the entire country. The two main ones are Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, both being gigantic. Dasht-e Kavir, also called Kavir Desert, Iran Central Desert, or in Persian Kavir Markazi-e Iran is situated to the south of the Alborz Mountains approximately in the center of Iran. Lut Desert also called Dasht-e Lut, Kavir-e Lut or Dasht-e Lut Desert is situated in the south-east of Iran. It is also one of the two UNESCO natural sites of Iran that were registered in 2016. You might have visited deserts in other parts of the world but, by comparison, Iran’s deserts are a combination of them all in terms of natural attractions. They are made up of sand dunes, flat desert areas, salt lakes, dry lakes, wetlands, rock formations, canyons, rivers, various mines, birds, animals, flora, caves, high mountains and diverse coloured soils surrounded by villages. It’s possible to find a cluster of oases with agricultural areas in the middle of nowhere where you never thought there could be water. People still follow their customary way of life and live in their traditional houses. There are numerous citadels in these deserts dating back to over one thousand years. There is also an abundance of historical villages with special desert lands and Persian architecture built several hundred years ago. There are countless ancient Qanat “underground water channel systems” in many of Iran’s deserts dating back thousands of years. The Persian Qanat was registered in 2016 in the UNESCO heritage sites of Iran, which is one of Iran's historical phenomena. Persian cuisine is another attraction of our deserts, as you can find a wide variety of Iranian food on every corner. As you may
Iran Deserts Iran DesertsThe deserts in Iran are probably its main attraction. These deserts are vast and spectacular covering 25% of the entire country. The two main ones are Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, both being gigantic. Dasht-e Kavir, also called Kavir Desert, Iran Central Desert, or in Persian Kavir Markazi-e Iran is situated to
Dena National Park Dena National Park, with an approximate area of 250,000 hectares, is located in the middle of the Zagros mountain range covering the whole Dena mountain chain as explained in another article. Dena National Park is located in Dena Protected Area that is conserved by the Iranian Department of the Environment. The central part of Dena National Park was registered in 2010 on the UNESCO list as a Biosphere Reserve site. A biosphere reserve is an ecosystem with unusual plants and animals with scientific and natural interests. It is a label given by UNESCO to help preserve this remarkable region. The core area of the park is around 35,000 hectares, a large expanse indeed. The Dena region possesses an extensive number of plants, various native mammals seriously at risk of extinction, and different types of natural resources. Almond and pistachio trees can be seen mostly in the low-lying areas, whereas oak trees stand on elevated regions. Walnut, hackberry, and pear trees are also spread all over this spectacular area. This district has long been a protected habitat for many animals such as brown bears, wild goats, eagles, wolves, various wild cats including Caracas, lynxes, and leopards. In addition, many vast rivers namely the Dez, Karun, and Karkheh originate from this region where they flow into the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea. Picturesque falls, lakes, and pools make this mountainous area even more remarkably striking. In this geographical area, a significant number of individuals live a nomadic lifestyle. Smaller groups still maintain their medieval lifestyle. The multiculturalism of local residents, like nomadic communities, is totally evidenced by their languages, local cuisine, dress code, dance folklore, various festivals, herding, weaving, and other traditional production and crafts. Moreover, their understanding and way of living with regard to seasonal
Dena National Park Dena National Park, with an approximate area of 250,000 hectares, is located in the middle of the Zagros mountain range covering the whole Dena mountain chain as explained in another article. Dena National Park is located in Dena Protected Area that is conserved by the Iranian Department of the Environment. The
Dena Mountain Chain Dena mountain chain is the name of sub-range mountains located in the middle of the Zagros mountain range of Iran. It is around 90 km long with an average 15 km width. Most parts of this chain reach nearly 3,000 meters in height with a spectacular view of the whole region. They are home to some of the highest mountains in the entire Zagros range with more than 40 peaks rising to an elevation of 4,000 meters or more above sea level. One of these, the stunning Ghash Mastaan (Bijan 3), is the highest peak of all, with an elevation of 4,450 meters. There are two starting points to ascend the main peaks: The first one is the easiest and the most popular. It starts from Sisakht, the town on the southern west side of Dena. There is a delightful trail that leads you to the shelter and the main peaks above 4000m. The second accessible way to the peaks is called the Northern route. It starts from Khafr village in the lowlands of Dena. If your goal is to just climb the highest peak, (Ghash Mastan), this is the shortest way to do it. Also, on both sides of the mountain there is a shelter above 3000 m which is convenient to stop for refreshments before ascending the peak. Dena National Park and Dena mountain chain, which includes the whole foothill area around the chain, is protected by the Department of the Environment of Iran. For more information, please check Dena Protected Area. With the exception of the mountain range, so amazing for expert hikers, there are plenty of villages in Dena Park, nestled in the mountains with breath taking scenery, wonderful for long distance hiking. In this area, there is a vast
Dena Mountain Chain Dena mountain chain is the name of sub-range mountains located in the middle of the Zagros mountain range of Iran. It is around 90 km long with an average 15 km width. Most parts of this chain reach nearly 3,000 meters in height with a spectacular view of the whole region. They
