Lake Maharlu

Maharlu is an endorheic salt lake a little over twenty kilometres south-east of Shiraz, stretched out along a mountain ridge for about twenty-eight kilometres. It is fed by the seasonal Khoshk river, which passes through Shiraz, and by the winter rains; the lake has no permanent outflow, so salts build up in the basin. The depth rarely exceeds a metre and a half, and in summer the water retreats and lays bare a white crust of salt, which is harvested here. The pink colour of the water comes from the microscopic alga Dunaliella salina and from halophilic archaea: at high salinity they produce carotenoids, and the shade changes from pale peach to deep crimson depending on the salt concentration and the light. The shoreline is flat and sticky and the entry into the water is muddy. Because of water taken for irrigation and building on the Khoshk floodplain the lake is growing shallower, and the area of its surface varies noticeably from year to year. In spring, when the water is high, the surface becomes smooth and reflects the surrounding ranges.

The lake is not always pink: the colour depends on the salinity and is brighter towards the end of summer, when the water retreats, while in spring the surface is smooth and mirrors the mountains. The shore is sticky mud and getting into the water is awkward. It is about 20 km from Shiraz by car, and best at sunset. Payment in cash.

Address

دهستان مهارلو

On the map