The wetland in palm grove

Extracted from Rasekhoon

As far as the eye can see, we see green canebrakes and palm groves embracing us with freshness. This warm hug when is even more enjoyable when the smile of a rural child with the same simplicity and intimacy disappears tiredness of journey, and when he holds our hands for unforgettable memories.
We have made our determination to see Shadegan's lagoon closely. It's easy for us to relax and have a good journey, because the hospitality of the people of the South is a well-known fact.

● An island between 2 colors of blue and green

The international wetland of Shadegan city is one of the natural and beautiful landscapes of south of Khuzestan province. This wetland, the country's largest pond, is located 52 km from Abadan and 105 km from Ahwaz. Its area is 537 thousand hectares and its area reaches Shadegan and Khor from north, from the south to the river Bahman Shir, from west to Dorkhovin road and Abadan and from the east to Khor-e musa waters.
The surface of the wetland is covered by water-loving plants such as Typha latifolia, Cholan and floating plants, and is a good place to host aquatic birds. Varieties of fresh and salty freshwater fishes such as Carasobarbus luteus, Calamus pennatula, breeding fish and birds such as flamingos, herons, storks, wild goose and duck live in this wetland. The only habitat and place of birth of the Gargary stroks in the world is the mysterious wetland, and birds such as Slender-billed curlew and Afrasian Amaras are also very rare examples of this region.
We are on a boat on the water. The horizon of our eyes cannot identify two blue and green colors. Only in the background of our mind we can see the skipper, who splits water with his paddles, and makes us safe and comfortable; his sunlight-burned face with the smile of by white teeth doubles our peace of mind. We would love to stay in peace forever.
Shadegan wetland, in addition to its international value, was assigned to the environmental organization under the authority of the High Council for the Conservation of Nature named Shadegan International Wildlife Refuge. This pond dependent on wildlife also has economic and social values.
Vegetation in the wetland is considered as an important source of forage and food for livestock.
Among the country's wetlands, Shadegan wetland is considered as the most diverse wetland in terms of vegetation. The surface of the wetland is covered with water-loving plants such as Typha latifolia and Cholan, which are a kind of straw used as building materials and floating plants, and it is a great place to accommodate thousands of migratory birds from northern Europe and Siberia in the fall that come to the area.

● A wetland in the arms of the palm groves and canebrake

Although the Shadegan lagoon has a lot of tourist status, the living standards of people living in the enclosed villages of this lagoon are very low and below the poverty line. The raw materials of their houses are made from the lagoon itself, and the people's economy turns on fishing and hunting poultry. In the ecological zone of the lagoon, there are 117 villages and 3 urban areas that commute through these villages through a boat, something like the Venice city of Italy attracting thousands of tourists every year.
The Shadegan wetland has varied in terms of rankings at UNESCO. Once it had the fifth international rank, then it was ranked eighteenth and now it is ranked twenty-second. The upward trend in the number of ratings, which is in fact a descending and qualitative decline, is due to artificial and uncontrolled interception and entry of pollutants, including agricultural waste associated with a variety of pesticides, especially due to the sugarcane cultivation plan, The oil pipeline leaks from the wetland area and the discharge of urban waste at the margin of the lagoon, and so on.

● Shadegan Lagoon at Risk of Destruction

Jamal Zurizadeh, director of the Shadegan wetland's area of tourism, says: "Wastewater destroys canebrakes and Shadegan's aquatic animals, and endangers life in the area." He adds that the wetland has three types of salt water, fresh water and brackish water, which, unfortunately, the waste from the production of sugar cane, which contains pesticides, leads to salinity of water, because the material enters the wetland through the fresh water duct and lead to salinity of water in the wetland leads and the loss of aquatic animals and decrease of number of tourists.
The official said: "Of course, now with the efforts of the representative of the people of the city of Shadegan, there is a channel being built with a width of 100 meters and along the development of sugar cane by sea that 50 percent of it is over.
Zorizadeh pointing out that Shadgan Lagoon has a great tourist attraction said that the development of infrastructure is one of the long-term objectives of the organization, In this regard, 150 million tomans in 2005 were considered for this purpose, which was spent in the village of "Regbeh" for the construction of roads, parking lots, the creation of green spaces and the construction of a small pier. Also in 2006, 150 million tomans were allocated to this lagoon, which also led to the creation of the infrastructure of the village of "Sarakhieh".
He goes on and says: The village is located in the middle of the lagoon and leads to the ring road. The creation of green spaces and pier is one of the most important projects in the village of Sarakhieh.
The environmental organization has opposed to the development of the components of attracting tourists due to the disappearance of the wetland's wildlife; while in coordination with the environment organization of this area it can become one of the most beautiful natural areas and it can be protected. Tourists will lead to the well-being of the people of this wetland.
In the talks of Khuzestan province organization's head, governorate, and representative of the people of Shadegan with the environmental organization, the plan of tourism development studies of this wetland is under consideration. Also, with talks conducted under the command of the Conservation Units, 15 troops are scheduled to be introduced to protect this intact wetland. This responsible official also adds: Fortunately, native people were very happy with the arrival of tourists because tThey became acquainted with the customs of other areas and could earn money by their boats.
He acknowledged the principled and general agreement on the environment as one of the most important programs for the development of tourism, and said that if this agreement is made, other measures such as the establishment of a sanitary facility, the establishment of residential centers and ... for the reception of domestic guests and Foreigners will also be provided.

● Unknown and unique pond

All that was in this dreamland was attractive to us. Rural old men and women, although their backs were bended, still eat bread with their work and hardworking and work together. Perhaps like the first days of acquaintance, they do not have the thrill of being together, but they know that one does not have a motive without another.
The lagoon was beautiful and magical, there was a little time and we had to go back. On the way back, we were watching a herd of cows that traversed the width of the lagoon to reach forage and feed. In some areas where the depth of the lagoon was high, these massive animals were drowned in water, and only they heads were out of the water. This scene is kept just by the camera shutter. The beauty of the Shadegan wetland should be touched and closely sensed. It's possible to spend several consecutive days and enjoy the virgin nature and enjoy the beautiful wild birds and discover thousands of other unknown elements