GOHAR Lake

Extracted from seeiran
GOHAR Lake, nicknamed as ring of Zagros, is a mountainous lake in Iran, located amongst the OSHTORANKOUH mountain range in LORESTAN state with a height of 2350 meters above sea level.
The lake is located in the protected area of OSHTORANKOUH of DOROUD city. The lake, known as the ring of OSHTORANKOUH, is away from devastation and pollution, due to its lack of road traffic. Annually about 70 000 tourists are visiting the area.
GOHAR is likely was created by a great earthquakes. Today, this lake is located on the main fault of Zagros. Therefore, it is created likely that the fault`s movement and landslide.
GOHAR includes two parts called as the Great GOHAR (KALE GOHAR) and the Little GOHAR (KORE GOHAR). The Great GOHAR Lake is about 1700 meters long and 400 to 800 meters wide and 4 to 28 meters deep.
Access to this lake is possible by the car via the DOROUD city, and this is the closest way to access the lake. The pathway which is made recently, makes easy access to this lake.
The shore of this lake except the entrance of the lake (western side) and it`s opposite (Oriental side), which has a sandy shore is suitable for swimming, but other parts are rocky and not suitable for swimming. In the lower part of the lake, there is a huge forest which is about to be destroyed.
In the upper part there is also a massive forest which is also threatened with destruction. From above part, a pond sinks to the lake, which leads to another lake. It takes about 40 minutes to reach the lake (GOHAR II or Lower GOHAR).
The depth is low and the fishes at the bottom of the lake can be seen with a little attention. The water flow of the lake is 10 cubic feet per second and its output current is about 20 cubic feet per second. The reason for an increase in the volume of water in outlet of the lake is the presence of springs in the lower part of it.
The main supplier of water is through the river of its entrance, the TOPLE River, which has a very cool water and crystalline color and it`s bed is full of gravel or rubble which flows with slight acceleration into a small lake and after a short distance enters into Lake GOHAR.
July and August are the best times to travel to these lakes. One of the most beautiful valleys is around the GOHAR Lake and is famous as NEYGAH Valley, which is covered with colorful anemones and reed bed tulips. OSHTORANKOUH protected area is located in between the cities of ALIGUDARZ and DOROUD.
The annual rainfall in the GOHAR region is about 933 mm, which is mostly snowfall. In the snowy years, the surface of the lake is frozen. .
Around the GOHAR lake is covered with oak, willow, almond, wild pistachio, wild pear, plain, elm, oak, walnut, fig, asparagus, apple, hawthorn, orange, asparagus, pomegranate, GAZ, and wild vine. Flowering tulips, anemone, wild tulip, amaranth and asters.
GOHAR Lake is a good habitat for aquatic animals and other wild animals. The OSHTORANKOUH protected area with a wide variety of wildlife includes animals such as goat, ram, deer, wild goat, leopards, wolf, boar, brown bear, hyena, fox, jackal, rabbit, and birds like eagle, Quebec, hawk, partridge, and aquatic like eel, turtles, frog ,trout, rainbow, brown trout live in the lake.
Most of Europeans and tourists recognize this lake as the Lake of Iran, which is the result of the introduction by a British woman named IZABELA LUCI BISHOP, who in 1890 was able to study the area for a period of three months and walked a thousand kilometers, but according to the authentic historical documents The one who discovered the GOHAR Lake was an Austrian geologist named A-Rudder, who in 1888 succeeded in preserving his name as the discoverer of the GOHAR Lake in history. He had moved from the direction of ALIGOUDARZ when discovering the lake.
The first and oldest photo documentary produced from this lake was also taken in 1891, belonging to a French traveler named Jean-Jacques Dormagen.
One of the features of up valley GOHAR is the nest on the east coast of the Great GOHAR Lake.
Important tips for traveling to GOHAR Lake:
1- The best season is late May, although its nights are a bit cold.
2- It is forbidden from fishing until the end of June, and then it is mandatory to obtain permission from the environment office in west of the lake. .
3- For accommodation in the west, the lake has a guard, electricity, tent facilities and better safety.
4. Do not forget about the star of GOHAR`s sky, because they are very beautiful.
5. To preserve the beauty of the lake, you can burn your rubbish.
6. Enjoy the beauty of nature, but do not destroy it.
Address: OSHTORANKOUH Protected Area, DOROUD city.