Perhaps you’ve seen pictures of colored lakes around the world, but do you know that the Chabahar lagoon is one of them? Pink lake , also known as Chabahar Pink Lake, is one of Chabahar’s spectacular attractions in southern Iran. If you want to know where the lagoon is and how you can reach it, or how it came about and why it’s colorful, continue to stay in touch with us to get to know more.
Chabahar Pink Lake
A unique lake in Iran and the world. A pink lake is not something you can see everywhere and only a few countries have it. Chabahar pink lake is a good destination for bird watching. The marbled duck which is in danger of extinction is also located on site.
You can see many beauties as you go from Chabahar to Gwadar bay. It does not take long to reach Ramin village, and after that pink waters attract your attention. This is the lagoon in question, located in a village of the same name and known as the pink lake of Chabahar. A lagoon spawned from the stagnation of water from Oman Sea between two mountains has created an interesting ecosystem. The lake is located in a rocky strait overlooking the mountain and offers an eye-catching view. You might think it’s some sort of milkshake but in fact, it is one of the world’s most salty waters with a beautiful and deceptive appearance. During winter the lake covers a distance of about 10 hectares and more than 14 kilometers of it also gets over flooded.
There are not many facilities available around the lake and due to that, the site seems very neat. Occasionally, sea oysters and sea salt are sold by the locals and in other parts of the region, locals are collecting salt from the lake in real time. Despite all its simplicity, the lake is at the height of its glory and beauty. This phenomenon is limited in number around the world: Lake Hillier, Blue Lagoon, Spencer Lake in Australia, Lake Retba in Senegal and lakes located in South Africa, Vancouver and Bolivia plus this one which is in Iran. The pink water reaches the yellow coast, and in combination with the greenery of plants and the sky’s blue, it presents a picture to the viewer not seen anywhere else.
Having Fun
There may not be a lot of recreational facilities near the lake but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the lake itself. In addition to being a pink lake in Iran, it has an interesting climate with two particular activities such as:
Bird-watching: many species of migratory birds choose this particular lake and its surrounding area for winter. They come from the northern orbit to the southern orbit and stay near the lake. This provides a good opportunity for birdwatching enthusiasts and attracts them to the lake. One of the most important bird species found in and around the lagoon is a species of marbled duck.
Photography: Pink Lake is a great subject for photography. Even if you are not a professional photographer, do not leave this place without taking a picture.
Camel riding: If you travel to Lipar during the peak of its tourism days, you may see local people who are camping around the lagoon. You can rent one and go for a ride along the coast.
Best season for traveling
Chabahar Pink Lake has all the makings for good weather all year round, but if you want to stay clear of the sun when visiting the Pink Lake, travel during winter or New Years’ time.
Spring: during Nowruz, Chabahar Pink Lake hosts many travelers. If you don’t have a problem with all the bustle, pick these days for visit Lipar.
Summer: The lake is not at its finest in terms of water reserves and may not be as beautiful as it should be.
Autumn: Autumn is the season in which birds migrate. During this particular season, the Pink Lake hosts birds that come from distant lands.
Winter: The charming weather of Chabahar will tempt anyone to make the trip. There are lots of birds that come to the lake during winter, so birdwatching is still available.
The color of the lake in different months
Due to the intensification of plankton activity, in some months such as March, May, September, October, February, and April you can expect more color.
Note: This is a natural phenomenon and nature is affected by different factors. Undoubtedly, rainfall and climate change have a direct impact on the image of the lagoon and its color, amount of water and its extent. The months that have been mentioned will only increase your chances of seeing the Pink Lake at its finest. It may also be seen in red and orange at times and not necessarily pink.
Why is Lipar Lagoon pink?
The pink color of this wetland has made it famous and different, but do you know where this color comes from? What you see is the result of the presence of pink and/or reddish planktons. Well, now you know all about it. Planktons are referred to any mass of organisms, including animals, plants or bacteria that live on top of seas or oceans or freshwater reserves. Their size can be as small as microscopic bacteria and big as jellyfish. Planktons are at the top of the food chain for fish and such and guarantee their survival.
About 90% of the lake is filled with planktons plus organic and mineral substances that enter the lake through the river and the sea. The result of all these nutrients is the high increase in biological production during some seasons. Now add sea currents from Monsoon storms, which are a unique feature of the Oman Sea and you get an increase in biological production during June to mid-September, the following months after the Monsoon. This increase reaches its highest rate after a few months, in December, which means more color.
October, February, March, May, and September coincides with a tidal phenomenon in Gwadar bay. This phenomenon is due to the proliferation of microscopic organisms called dinoflagellate algae, which increases significantly during February, March, and May. Tat this particular time the process of “red tide” or “red Kashand” occurs which is considered to be a biological process in aqueous environments. This process is also the result of activity from planktons and plays a major role in the food chain of the aquatic ecosystems of the region. In fact, red Kashand is a name that refers to the change in watercolor as a result of the flourishing and accumulation of microorganisms (planktons). The name consists of two parts: Kashand means tide, and red refers to the planktons. Since they cannot swim, their movement depends on the waves and currents of water, and they are displaced by the tide.
Of course, planktons have different pigments, including green, blue, yellow, brown and red, but since their red color is more visible, they are more often known as being red. Due to the presence of these pigments, you may see different colors in the lake.
How was the Lipar wetland formed?
You might ask yourself what the story is and how it came about. There are two narratives in this regard; some locals believe that this wetland was formed by the mixture of seawater with this lake through a natural process.
Others, however, believe that this wetland owes its existence to one of the people in Dambdaf village. Dad-Karim Sheikhzadeh was one whom with the help of locals and a donation from himself and support from the Ministry of Energy in 1984 provided agricultural machinery and was able to shape this phenomenon. His goal was not just to create an attraction, and perhaps he even did not think about it. He simply wanted to manage the water that was over flooding the area due to heavy raining.
However, in the first years of the construction of the wetland the water from nearby sources was directed towards the lake and with the help of good rainfalls in the area and the accumulation of water managed to expand the lake and ultimately it brought migratory to this particular site. Of course, in recent years, droughts have also taken the edge from this wetland, and each year due to the number of rainfalls the size and shape of the lake are changing.
Lipar wetland in Chabahar
The good geographical location of this attraction has made it possible to provide suitable conditions for plants such as oak, nettles, Gaz, Prosopis, acacia, and locusts. These plants grow in the lake water, adding to its scenic beauty. Wild cotton is also in the area where people make their mattresses and pillows with them.
There is a place located near this local lagoon which is called in the local language Dashtan or the bride of Chabahar. In Baluchi, Dashtan means young girls who have not married. The lush and young trees of this region explanation this naming.
The animals in the region
In addition to plant diversity, we also see good animal diversity in this area. Birds such as Flamingo, Coot, Grebes, Great egret, Sandgrouse, Eurasian Teal, Western swamphen, Kestrel, See-see Partridge, and Tawny eagle. Based on studies, 93 plant plankton species, 31 animal plankton species, 64 species of mollusks, 85 species of fish, 24 species of crustaceans, 14 species of benthos and 46 different species of algae live in this ecosystem.
What does lipar mean?
Liparis a two-part word: “Lip” and “Ar”. Lip means thorns and thatch, and Ar means river water. Since the village of Liparis located near the pink wetland, the river water reaches the sea with thorns and thatches, so it has given this name. On the other hand, in the Balochi language, the intersection of rivers with seawater is called Lipar which is exactly what the lake represents
