Zarivar Lake
Lake in Iran
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lake Zarivār (Persian: زریوار), is a lake in the Zagros Mountains, within Kurdistan province of western Iran.[2] It is vital to the local economy for tourism, irrigation, and fishing purposes.[1]
Kurdistan province,
Iran
| Lake Zarivār زریوار Zrewar | |
|---|---|
| |
  Lake Zarivār زریوار Zrewar | |
| Location | Zagros Mountains, Kurdistan province, Iran |
| Coordinates | 35°32′N 46°08′E |
| Zarivār River | |
| Basin countries | Iran |
| Max. length | 5 km (3.1 mi)[1] |
| Max. width | 1.6 km (0.99 mi)[1] |
Surface area | 8.9 km2 (3.4 sq mi)[1] |
| Max. depth | 6 m (20 ft)[1] |
Water volume | 30×106 m3 (24,000 acre⋅ft)[1] |
Surface elevation | 1,290 m (4,230 ft)[1] |
| Settlements | Marivan |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Lake Zarivār زریوار Zrewar | |
It is also known as lake Zaribar.[3] In local Sorani Kurdish it is known as the lake Zrewar or Zrêbar or Zrêwar, زرێبار.[citation needed] In documents dating to the Qajar era (~1800s) it is sometimes recorded as Zerehbar and Zarbar.[3]
Description
The lake is situated in the Iranian province of Kurdistan 3 km west of Marivan and has a length of 5 km (3.1 mi) and a maximum width of 1.6 km (0.99 mi).[1] The lake's water is fresh and has a maximum depth of 6 metres (20 ft).[1] Its mean annual temperature is 10 °C (50 °F), located in a region with a semi-arid climate, receiving a mean annual precipitation of 300 mm.[1]
The lake is fed by a combination of seasonal rainfall and subaqueous springs.[1]
The lake plays a "vital role" in the local economy as a tourist attraction, source of irrigation, and fishing location.[1]
There is much Kurdish folklore locally on the origin of the lake.[2]
A documentary covering the Zarivar Lake was made by Shahriar Siami in 2007, titled Iran's Wetlands.[citation needed]
Environmental conditions
From an environmental perspective, this wetland is of high importance and value as an aquatic ecosystem. Zarivar Lake is the only natural lake in the heart of the Zagros Mountains, surrounded by forests and mountains to the west, east, and north.[4]
Biodiversity
The dominant vegetation of the region is semi-dense forests, the dominant species being oak, which together with Pyrus syriaca, Crataegus meyri and Amygdalus lycioides forms tree and shrub elements. Dense vegetation of herbaceous plants covers large areas of the lake. So far, 271 species belonging to 53 families and 183 genera have been identified and introduced around the lake. Some species, such as Tetrataenium nephrophyllum, are native to Zarivar Lake, and others, such as Carex pseudocyperus, are reported for the first time from western Iran. The presence of endemic and rare plant species in Zarivar Lake doubles the importance of the vegetation and the protection of these valuable plant genetic reserves.[5]
