In the west of Iran and among the Zagros Mountains, there is a beautiful and spectacular lake called Zarivar. This lake, which is located two kilometers west of Marivan city and about 130 kilometers from Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan province, is the largest freshwater lake in western Iran.
Sanandaj Road to Zarivar Lake
The road that connects Sanandaj to Marivan and Zarivar Lake is one of the most beautiful roads in Iran. This road passes through the thousand-year-old oak forests and the pristine nature of Kurdistan. The road sometimes passes through plains and hills covered with oak trees, and sometimes behind mountain and rocky heights.
Zarivar’s name
The name of this lake consists of two parts: Zari and Baar or Vaar. The word Zari and Zaria in Kurdish means “sea”. The words vaar and baar in Kurdish meaning “like” and “species”. Therefore, Zarivar means “like the sea.” But others have taken baar or vaar in Zarivar to mean “beach” and “aside.”
Zarivar, aquatic and bird’s habitat
Zarivar fresh water is supplied from springs around the lake and springs that boil at the bottom. Zarivar Lake is about 1285 meters above sea level. The lake is 4.5 km long and slightly less than 2 km wide. The average depth of the lake is about 3 meters during the year and reaches 5 meters in rainy months.
Zarivar Lake has a special variety of plants. Parts of the shore of the lake are surrounded by species of reeds. There are also species of ivy on the shores of the lake. Water Lily has also been seen in this lake.
Zarivar Lake is a suitable habitat for nesting birds in west of Iran because of vegetation around the lake and the diversity of aquatic species.
Duck, heroin, coots, Bitterns, and swallow are birds that live in this area. Hunting birds such as Circinae and Kestrel also live on the shores of the lake. Also, fish such as common carp, grass carp, and eel are the lake’s aquatic species.
Tourist attractions of Zarivar Lake
Boating is one of the most exciting activities on Zarivar Lake. Tourists can enjoy floating on Zarivar with motor and pedal boats.
Another attraction of the trip to this beautiful lake is to taste the grilled fish there. Restaurants around the lake with fish caught from the lake or farmed fish with lake water provide this unique experience for tourists.
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