Tourist Attractions of Iran’s deserts and wilderness

Countries which has located in the northern hemisphere at latitudes 15 and 45 ° are in arid or desert strip of the Earth (such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Africa, the United Arabic Emirates and so on), because at this latitude, "full of air tropical adjacent " is prevailing. This high-pressure air with two effects and its own feature, to any area that blows, stops the rain: dispersing the air and not to give climbing possibility to it. In general it can be said that the air can bring rain to be unstable; that is, have had climbing possibility, gets cold so that the cloud particles can eventually lead to rainfalls (rain, snow and hail) and fall on the earth. High-pressure air does not give such an option. Our dear country, Iran, which is almost situated at latitude of 25 degrees north and 40's, is truly inside or has been in the core of this geographical latitude, and therefore has been influenced by nearby intense tropical high pressure; hence, it is expected to be with dry climate and poor desert in terms of rainfall, such as the United Arabic Emirates and other emirates of the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Africa, etc. but, Fortunately, over the course of Earth's tectonic evolution of our country, two phenomena have happened or natural complications occurred in many of its areas, the adverse effect of nearby torrid high-pressure and also winds of Alyza that also in the same geographical latitudes causes dry weather, has gone and Iran have different types of weather and in terms of this feature is almost exceptional in the world. One of these two phenomena, drying rivers, but survival of two seas are in the north and south of the country (Caspian sea in the north, the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea in the south) and the other is mountainous chains and its becoming of a mountainous area.

Renewable natural resources

In plain areas, especially in arid and desert areas, there are many renewable natural resources or renewable mines in the area in small parts or small ranges such as deserts of salt (salt) or a range of windy sand dunes as longitudinal shape continuous lengthened up to 200 km and their height " accumulated sand dunes " reaches up to 475 meters long, like sands or sandy field located in East Lute known as "gritty Ylan" and also, other chain sand dunes of the country sand sprites (in the southern desert between Tabas and Yazd), Dehli sand ( on the way of (Bam to Samsoor in desert) camel sands (Baluchistan ) gravel Kashan (Aran Bidgol) and other longitudinal dunes. But in different areas of arid and desert , sand dune are found in different types of forms in (crescent-shaped, sword-shaped, etc.) that both have beautiful forms or there are inexhaustible (renewable natural resources), it is because are being replaced , or do not go away. Wind sand dunes, are either beautiful or have diverse applications. So far, about 20 cases of sand using have been discovered. So, sand dunes are either from paramount economic resources (renewable natural resources) or important elements and beautiful tourist attraction shapes, while the sand dunes are good bed for skiing.
In the dry areas of the country, there are different types of deserts (salt marshes) that are inexhaustible (renewable), unlike the mines, mountain salt (salt domes) are running out (natural resources). The Deserts or salt marshes and minerals exists a variety of different regions of our country from different parts, which we have named them based on the physical shape (the shapes of salt layers and salt type), such as deserts layer with sodium chloride salt, Charia deserts having calcium chloride types and swollen or bloated deserts with sodium sulfate salts and salt plains having potassium nitrate.

Desert

Deserts (salt marshes) such as sand dunes, while due to various sights and major tourist attractions are beautiful, by having a variety of minerals are considered as the most important economic resources (renewable resources) of dry areas of the country, because each type of desert minerals has various applications, for example sodium sulfate is used as detergents, glasswork, paper making and many other items. To revive Sodium sulfate to sodium sulfide in a very simple way, of this valuable material, to extract metal from ore (iron ore, copper, etc.) is used. From sodium chloride for human and animal consumption (salt) as well as oil and petrochemical products are used. Calcium chloride is moist absorbent that has dozens of applications and in short, potassium nitrate is also used as a natural nitrogen fertilizer and either to produce gunpowder and other combustible materials is used. Therefore, the Deserts (salt) unlike the past that if there was any area, indicated the misery and nasty of that area, but, today it is a sign of good luck and a source of development of each country and region, because in the past that further activities was based on agriculture and animal husbandry, the deserts due to salt density and their non-farming not only were not useful and were not used, but also, led to the rising groundwater level in these areas, and caused rising drainage water and desert lands in the surrounding area.
So, the deserts ( salt marshes) unlike the past that if there was in every region , was a sign of the poverty and the misery of that region , but today, it is regarded the signs of luck , development and progress of every country because in the past that activities were based on agriculture and cattle raising, the deserts due to the density of salt in them and being bare of cultivation , not only were of no use and were not used , but also, with the rise in the subterranean water level in these fields , led to a rise of salt water and deserting of its surrounding land, too . Hence, small poor agricultural areas and poor villages created in the territories with salt water and soil, were gradually with salt water spread eventually becoming saltier of desert land under cultivation in these areas, the residents of the villages had migrated to other areas of the country, and so agriculture civilizations also were destroyed. But today , thanks to the advancement of science and technology, we can use a variety of minerals ,all kinds deserts and if through a proper planning they are used, it will either have a significant impact on the economies of the region and the whole country in terms of employment or lifting the people's standard of living , the industrial cities, like a chain, will developed around deserts and eventually, advanced industrial civilizations rather than the miserable agricultural traditions in the past, will be created.

Tourist attraction

deserts and lands have also other benefits that perhaps we can say that doing something in this field is more economical and better and it is the use of deserts (salt marshes) as the country's major tourist attractions . It is true that our country with two beautiful sea in the north and the south and the variety of forests in a different areas, and the green valleys of the plant, and the great rivers and high water fountains, mineral water sources, variety of areas covered by colored flowers and also variety of natural wildlife naturally is one of the regions in the world, which has a variety of tourist attractions but, the desert of Iran has specific characteristics. Even some cases have been unique and in other countries in the world is seldom seen; therefore , despite the fact that are interesting for each individual Iranian , so are interesting for foreign tourists , especially those who deal with the desert and the Science related to it (desert experts) is very interesting however the desert is seemingly known as inappropriate bed for farming and doing other agricultural benefits.

A summary of attractions and beauties of the deserts and lands

The deserts (salt marshes): each country which has salt marshes has a name for that; so, in Iran we call the salt marsh desert. The desert is a land which is said to be under the influence of salt and the salt has been collected near the surface for plants that is appropriate growing plants even pistachio , dates , barely that are resistant to saltiness and alkali) ; but it is possible that the amount of its minerals to be in the extent that non- cultivate plants , but resistant to alkali and saltiness such as( tamarisk, camel thorn, Ashnyan, straw and etc) can grow in it. In this situation they are called (desert pastures) or (planting pastures) which are called the proliferation of natural resources or arid regions. But if the amount of minerals of the soil solution exceeds a certain degree no longer any plant will grow there. Here, we talk about the attractions and beauties of planting deserts or deserts lacking plants as one of the best tourist attraction in our country as well as the world over.
A) about the deserts with plants: in various parts of the country ( semi - arid semi - desert , dry, and desert ) we have several pieces of desert ( salt marsh ) that their number reaches to 45 desert, such as the desert of East Azerbaijan (also known as the desert of Kabudan -Arak) and some other deserts as the desert of Qum region and several pieces of the desert in the arid areas such as the desert of Bejistan, khaf - and the desert of Khorasan Jajarm, but the largest desert ( salt marsh ) of Iran is the central or is the desert plain of Iran. Also in the semi - desert areas like Yazd, we have five of the desert (salt marsh), such as the desert of Abarqoo, the desert of Marast, Siakoo, etc. , and even in the desert of Lout , exist salt marshes which is completely bare of any plants. The desert with plants or around the desert in center of Iran, while is accounted as the Oasis pastures or natural resources for every nation and region , has significant tourist attraction because , in them, different kinds of plants are growing, that particularly in spring some of them have beautiful flowers such as a variety of tamarisk with purple flowers mixed with colors and all kinds of plants which have very interesting view . The deserts with plants almost like forests which in the autumn are very beautiful, in the spring are beautiful and worth view; so, in this season we should use tourist attractions and arrangement of tours. The use of these areas as the pasture, that is, being and releasing of animals especially camels in them, bestows a beautiful view to the deserts, especially in the evening.
B - The deserts lack of plants: to what extend the region in terms whether is drier and warmer, a number of its plants are few. In other words, the semi - arid areas ( for example, Azerbaijan and Arak )to dry desert areas (such as the Lout desert) , the desert plants are reduced and the level of deserts lacking plants is increasing as far as in the Lout desert each piece that is desert , lacks the plants. in the plain of Kavir or central desert and around it that due to the influence of underground water to the region as well as the flowing surface water, the soil moisture is more to some extent; the deserts have plant but the central part of them is generally lacking the plants with different layers of salts that are beautiful like a flowers of a carpet. A variety of salts with various forms of crystals and beauties, bestows a every charming landscape to different parts of deserts lacking plant. The best time to visit these deserts and arranging tourist program for them is in the late summer and autumn before the rainfall launching. Because, over a period of warm and dry summer the salts are collected on the surface of the earth and various salt crystals with different shapes gives a very beautiful view. In brief, every desert of Iran in various areas has specific characteristics as well as climatic conditions. For example, Kavir of Sultan tank has characristics that the other Kavirs lack (deeply marshes), and Yazd Kavir of Sagand is different from Arak desert of East Azerbaijan, though both located in the semi - arid areas, but overall, they all are different and beautiful.
The desert: desert which the Arabs called it (Sahra) is referred to a vast area which is so poor in terms of rain and it is possible that in a year of rain no rainfall occurs, and its long year rains, comes within a few days or a few hours. (Real deserts of the world, such as Iran’s Lout desert, Sub - Saharan of Africa and desert of Atakama in South America that for 29 years no rain has occurred in them, Since 1832 - 1853), such a land in terms of water and vegetation is very poor or a wide range of that lacking the plant, like Lout desert in Iran. In this desert for long years rain does not come and no sweet running water is seen and its water is limited to only five little spring water that the water of all of them is salty. Also, it has a permanent River that it's water is salty and at the end, due to severe evaporation it is changed into salt mine; so this desert is not suitable for agriculture.
But, because for several years no rainfall occurs, and within a few days or a few hours, these conditions have created some outcomes by water and rain that are regarded major and beautiful attractions. In other words, shapes and natural resources that are inappropriate for exploitation are known as the most important tourist attraction desert that some of which are unique and are not seen in any area of the world. Despite the fact that the investigations of me and my colleagues have shown that the lowest point in Iran located in Lout and hottest point of the earth is also here. In other words, if the Arctic and Antarctic are the coldest point on the surface of the earth , Lout desert can be the hottest point on the earth so, one of the most important tourist attraction in the Lout desert that is , the lowest point on the earth, the hottest point , can be very interesting for every one. In addition to years without rainfall for example aridity of land , poverty of planting and incursion winds from one side ( the attrition effect wind and years without wind and rain falling, a few days or a few hours and other corrosive effect of wind has caused some phenomena in the desert of Lout which are very outstanding. On the going process, we will number the phenomena and interesting forms of desert that has come due to wind and water that seeing them will be of interesting for every viewer.

Phenomena and desert views formed by wind:

1- the chain of hills or better say sandy mountains chain have up to 475 meters in height and a length of 200 km and a width of 60 km. This great sandy mass with linear form is located in East of Lut Dasht and is known as “grit Ylan" or oriental sand of Lut.
2- Sand dunes scattered in various forms (crescent-shaped, which is called a sword-shaped hills) these sand dunes are located in the Dasht-e Lut.
3- Yardang: The Yardang are the hills that has caused by the soil removal around them (eg, in the form of a large box, or a small hill remained in the ground).
Nabka: The sand dunes on which there are plants. These desert phenomena are called "Desert Flower" because in the flat plain, the hills on which green plants are grown can be sporadically seen. The world's largest Nabkaha, both in terms of environment are located on the western edge of the Lut desert or in terms of height it is located up to 10 meters which is also in the Lut, but in the western part, near Karim is from the surrounding of Karim Abad. These fields without grasses have created by the wind effect because, the wind has taken the fine particles (sand and dust), and with these materials (sand, gravel and stone) has remained that created a variety with beautiful colors through arid Lute plain.

Phenomena and views caused by water and wind:

Because in the Lut desert, for years no rainfall occurs, but its several years rain falls for a few days or a few years, the effect of water erosion is sever that has created beautiful shapes and different side views.
Kalut: the Kaluts created by water erosion and its polishing and wind has come and like a series of parallel corridors has covered up to the height of over 200 meters and width of 80 km-long and 140 of Lut area and it completely devoid of plant and the life. This desert condition is just limited to Iran's Lut desert and seen nowhere else. The lowest internal point of Iran (56 m above sea level) and the hottest spot on the planet, is also located inside these Kaluts (a watery- windy hole) .
Lut cities: geographers have named deserts based on their natural being and their physical appearance, for example: If flat, it is "desert plain" if mountainous, it is "mountain wilderness", if with high elevation, it is called "high altitude desert” and covered with sand, is called sandy rocky, and gavel desert, and etc. Due to Severe erosion by water and wind polishing, the ground in some parts have severely been eroded during centuries of water erosion and also sever (the wind) has converted to the remains or traces of city ruins that is known in ruins in the region as the "town of Lut 'or "Cities of Lut" and the geographers, have called them urban deserts or desert cities. These old vestiges and desert views that were created by water (and wind), are very beautiful and like vestiges of the ancient cities of Iran are interesting and spectacular.
Alleys: Due to haphazard rain and flood flows, the land is severely eroded and has created deep floods that locally is called alleys that the depth of which exceeds 30 meters. The salty lake of Hamoun gaz has been located in the Lut desert and at the end of (the southern part of Yelan sand) that is, between these two beautiful desert views, a lake has been created that is known as the "salty Hamoun Gaz Lake ". Every few years once, that as a result of rainfall the flood flows, this lake gains water for a short time that because of high levels of air evaporation, this lake after a short time, re-dries and loses water.
Salt mines: a permanent river that streams from the north of Lut desert (in Birjand, etc.) and along the way, a lot of fresh and salt branches enter into it and eventually flows into the wilderness of Lut (as a permanent river flows into the wilderness of Lut) but, because the weather is hot and dry, along the way its water reduces but, it is added to its minerals so as not reached into Kluts then, are dried and changes into salt mine that is also known as salt marsh or Shohada salt marsh.
Because Water salts are deposited along the way, the pure sodium chloride that in the water is quite soluble gets there and to this reason, salt mine is created thus, from Kerman and other parts the trucks and vans comes to remove the salt and carry it around and use the salt obtained from dried up water of the river, as mining or renewable salt reservoir is used. Therefore, its different parts have beautiful sceneries, especially by the beach site of the lake or the salt mine, a very interesting and spectacular scenery has been created.

Salt marshes of Lut plain

Lut as we have described, is a desert, but in that "Kavir" there's also salt marsh that it should be called "Lut desert," he called. In places where salty water is collected or the ground is affected by underground water, different types of deserts have appeared in different ways and absorb the attention. The author ,based on their appearance have named these deserts for example, the deserts with boiling oval means the deserts the salt at their surface is shaped into raw eggs (ostrich egg size) that is almost unique in the world.

Spring deserts:

that all the area throughout the region is seen as springs, while there is no water at all. Sheep’s trace desert “the surface of these areas is like a wet earth surface that a flock of sheep has crossed it that sheep’s footprint or trace has left on its surface.

Crescent-shaped deserts:

because of the intense heat and high evaporation, in other words where the air is so warm and dry when the desert humid and watery, the salt due to evaporation is drawn upward that like a crescent is upward. Often in the cold regions, in winters that rainfall occurs at nights the water falling from the home roofs down, converts into ice. In Lut desert, opposite to it, as a result of high evaporation, salt and water solution is being drawn upward into air as “salt crescent” so, the warmer and drier the weather of the region is, the more beautiful the crescents are. Thus, these types of deserts in desert of Lut are very seeable and spectacular that is not hard to describe in this way. In short, Kavir and desert are so beautiful that according to the author everyone, to calm his nerve needs to a piece of desert or wilderness. The Deserts of Iran, especially Dasht-e Kavir and Lut desert of Iran are among those that if they were considered , they will have the potential to be regarded as the most important and interesting tourist attractions and as a result to be as the economic resources of the country.