Hirom Lagoon

Fars Province is a region with a variety of natural attractions. The Hirom Lagoon, which is located in the south of this province and near the Persian Gulf, in Evaz County, is a resting place for seasonal migratory birds.

Lagoons of Fars Province

Fars province has 11 natural lagoons the total area of which is nearly 180 thousand hectares. These lagoons, along with 13 areas governed by the environmental management system, which include three national parks and wildlife refuges and eight protected areas, are house to different species of plants and animals in Fars Province. These areas cover about 10% of the total area of the province.

Among the lakes of Fars Province, Bakhtegan Lake, which was once the biggest lake in the province, has now dried up. Another important lake in the province is “Maharlu” the salinity level of which is so high that it is not possible to use the lake’s water for agriculture or fish breeding and is only used to extract edible salt. With an area of nearly 600 square kilometers, Maharlu Lake is now a resting place for migratory birds.

Tashk and Zarrinkuh are other saltwater lakes in Fars province. On the other hand, Arjan Lagoon, Parishan, Barmshur, Kaftar, Haftbarm, and the lakes behind Dorudzen, Salman Farsi, Molla Sadra, and Sivand dams have fresh water. The total area of saltwater lakes in Fars is 145 thousand hectares and that of its freshwater lakes is 30 thousand hectares.

Features of Hirom Lagoon

A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by a narrow landform, such as reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses. The water level of lagoons near the sea rises and falls with the tides, but the water level of lagoons like Hirom, which are located in the middle of the land, is constant and changes with rainfall or evaporation.

Because of their natural structure, lagoons prevent floods and because of the existing vegetation, they are a suitable place for birds to live. Hirom Lagoon, also known as Hirom Lake or Zarrin Lagoon, is a permanent lagoon that houses a variety of living beings. This lagoon is located in the Lar Plain (60 km north of Larestan). The water in this lagoon is salty and there are hot springs near it, which are one of its special features. The water of these springs is very effective in treating skin diseases and muscle pains and soothing the nerves.

Geography of Hirom Lagoon

With an area of 50 square kilometers, Hiram Lagoon is located in the middle of the Qalat mountain range, on the way from Evaz City to Bonaruyeh. The villages of Kureh and Hirom are the closest settlements to this lagoon. Because of its location, Hirom is called the tourism gem of the southern part of Fars Province. The size of the lagoon is about four thousand hectares and its deepest point is three meters.

This lagoon is located 36 km north of Evaz City and 309 km from Shiraz, and it is attached to Bidshahr Lake, which is a seasonal lake located in the Bidshahr district of Evaz City.

Hirom Lagoon Hosts Migratory Birds

Despite the fact that Hirom Lagoon is exposed to complete dryness due to repeated droughts and excessive withdrawals from underground water tables, it still hosts many migratory birds.

With the beginning of the cold weather in autumn and winter, birds such as cranes, terns, flamingos, spoonbills, herons, and all kinds of ducks and geese, spend time in the wetland on their migration route. Crabs live among the reeds in the lagoon, which are sometimes delicious food for migratory birds.

According to the available statistics, this lagoon receives four thousand aquatic and coastal migratory birds every year. The number of bird species identified in this lagoon stands at 30.

The Hirom Lagoon, which is located in the south of this province and near the Persian Gulf, in Evaz County, is a resting place for seasonal migratory birds.