Maharloo Lake () is a seasonal and
endorheic
An endorheic basin ( ; also endoreic basin and endorreic basin) is a drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water (e.g. rivers and oceans); instead, the water drainage flows into permanent ...
hypersaline wetland in the highlands of
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
, southeast of the city of
Shiraz
Shiraz (; ) is the List of largest cities of Iran, fifth-most-populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars province, which has been historically known as Pars (Sasanian province), Pars () and Persis. As of the 2016 national census, the popu ...
in
Fars province
Fars Province or Pars Province, also known as Persis or Farsistan (فارسستان), is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Shiraz.
Pars province has an area of 122,400 km2 and is located in Iran's southwest, i ...
. It is surrounded lengthwise by up to 2,000 m high mountains. The lakeshore has an altitude of 1460 m and spans approximately 600 square kilometers, though its size can vary significantly depending on the season. The lake salt is rich in potassium and other salts.
Rudkhane-ye-Khoshk, a seasonal river flowing through the city of Shiraz, brings most of the flood water to the lake bed during intensive precipitation events. The lake water typically evaporates by the end of summer and exposes the white lake bed. By mid-summer and due to high evaporation rates and salt concentrations, the lake water turns pinkish red as a result of the
red tide
A harmful algal bloom (HAB), or excessive algae growth, sometimes called a red tide in marine environments, is an algal bloom that causes negative impacts to other organisms by production of natural algae-produced toxins, water deoxygenation, ...
within the lake.
See also
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Dasht-e Arzhan
Dasht-e Arzhan () is a village in, and the former capital of, Dasht-e Arzhan Rural District of Arzhan District, Shiraz County, Fars province, Iran. The capital of the rural district has been transferred to the village of Chehel Cheshmeh- ...
*
Lake Parishan
Lake Parishan (Persian language, Persian: دریاچه پریشان) is a lake in Iran. The Parishan Lake is in Jereh and Baladeh District in Fars province and is the largest freshwater lake in the country. It receives very small amount of water ...
References
{{Authority control
Landforms of Fars province
Saline lakes of Asia
Lakes in Fars province
Endorheic lakes of Asia