SAEDNEWS: Nestled in the heart of Lorestan, Gahar Lake dazzles visitors with its crystal-clear waters surrounded by towering mountains, offering a serene escape for nature enthusiasts and hikers alike.
One of the unparalleled sightseeing spots in Dorud is Gahar Lake, with a depth of 4 meters, a place where all springs and waterfalls wish to stumble upon and see it up close. I couldn’t determine its exact age, but it seems to have a long history. This curiosity is what led me to Gahar Lake in Dorud, where I came across two reports.
The first report was by Isabella Lucy Bird, or by her married name, Isabella Bishop, an English traveler, writer, and photographer, who in 1890 had become fascinated with this area. She spent months studying it and walked over 1,000 kilometers until this lake gradually revealed itself, becoming known to Westerners as “Iran’s Lake.” Its formation is said to be due to an earthquake that ultimately caused a large landslide to block the valley, giving birth to this lake. The Zagros fault is also anchored here.
In the second report, which is more credible in terms of documentation, Austrian geologist A. Rudler came to the Zagros highlands in Lorestan around 1888 during the Qajar era. Through the route of Aligudarz, he first set eyes on this clear lake. A few years later, in 1891, Jean Jacques Domergue from France visited one of Dorud’s sightseeing spots and prepared the first and oldest documented photograph of Gahar Lake.
The Tapleh River flows into Gahar Lake, and since then it has been called the “Jewel of Oshtorankuh / Jewel of Zagros.” To reach your beloved, you must pass through the seven trials of Rostam to arrive at this blue lake of Lorestan, which, like the northern and southern coasts of Iran, features both sandy shores and desert-like areas. Gahar Lake, surrounded by mountains, is divided into two sections: Big Gahar Lake (Kaleh Gahar) and Small Gahar Lake (Koreh Gahar).
Kaleh Gahar, with a grandeur of 1,700 meters, a minimum depth of 4 meters and a maximum of 30 meters, a width between 400 to 800 meters, and a length around 1,500 meters, showcases its generosity. Even this abundance is enhanced by the drip of snow and a bit of rain, adding up to 500 to 900 millimeters more and sweeter, almost ready to swallow Small Gahar Lake.
I write about the freezing of the lake surface, which fills your heart with snow, and though you might want to prepare for skiing on it during harsh winter days, here you must forget such thoughts. Even if the lake’s surface becomes smooth in winter and snowy days, skiing or swimming is completely prohibited.
Small Gahar Lake is not alone; it is accompanied by a forest and trees nearby, from which a river flows into the lake and eventually reaches Big Gahar Lake, or Kaleh Gahar. Small Gahar Lake, measuring 500 meters in length, 150 meters in width, and about 4 meters in depth, is located 2 kilometers away from Big Gahar, and its clarity is such that you can watch the fish inside.
The lakebed, with colorful stones of all sizes, neighbors the crystal droplets of the lake, each carrying its own story to tell.
When I looked at Gahar Lake in Dorud, I imagined that it would be rare for any creature to live in such a pristine area. But I saw otherwise—just by taking a breath there, your eyes meet 68 endemic plant species, over 600 plant species, 53 tree and shrub species, 45 mammals, 30 reptiles, 195 birds, 5 amphibians, and several fish, whose number I lost track of. Of course, it’s worth mentioning the vipers and pit vipers before they slip from your mind.
The nature around Gahar Lake is also full of oak trees, barberry, wild apple, hawthorn, orus trees, arjan, wild pistachio, wild pear, Mazoo oak, walnut, hawthorn, arjan, kenar, kohur, pomegranate, tamarisk, almond, pistachio, pear, willow, elm, astragalus, tulips, plane trees, walnuts, figs, apples, pomegranates, tamarisk, tulips, poppies, lilies, wild crown lilies, and astragals.
Electric eels, turtles, frogs, red-spotted trout, rainbow trout, and yellow-finned fish live in the narrow and confined waters of the lake. Around the lake, you can see wild sheep, deer, rabbits, and a sky full of eagles, partridges, falcons, and quails. If your heart is touched by these gentle animals, imagine seeing leopards, wolves, wild boars, brown bears, hyenas, foxes, and jackals around Gahar Lake—your heart melts completely.
Although this area is protected, sometimes a gazelle or other animal might approach your tent in search of food, but that is the nature of wildlife. For peace of mind, you can camp on the western side of the lake, which has a guard, electricity, and designated tent platforms. However, if your heart desires a hunt for a fat bird or a deer, I must tell you that the law will not forgive you, and the environmental authorities of the area will track you down.
The facilities around Lake Gahar in Dorud are not very luxurious, but even a restroom, a police station, an environmental protection station, some lighting in parts of the lake, drinking water, and a temporary summer camp are better than nothing.
Continuing this report on Lake Gahar, I will write about the activities in this area: hiking, fishing, boating, sightseeing, and walking.
1. Nature tourism
It is, in itself, a nature tourism destination and considered one of the attractions of Lorestan. Once you leave your home and forget about work and daily life, your nature trip begins, all the way up to the mountainous area and Lake Gahar. The surroundings of this lake, in each season, deserve their own separate survival secret.
2. Boating
I don’t know if you will see a boat around Lake Gahar in Dorud, but it has been said and is said that it is possible to put a boat in this lake and go boating.
If you can, then what a joy it is—boating on Lake Gahar has a completely different charm than boating on lakes here and there. Before I forget, let me also warn you not to get the urge to jump into the lake while boating, or your life will truly be turned upside down.
3. Fishing
It would be impossible for a lake to exist in this sacred land without fishing. Anglers count their opportunities to cast their hooks into the heart of the lake to catch trout, black fish, yellowfin fish, and blue eel.
But where these fish came from and how they arrived in this narrow lake, I do not know; the experts should explain that. Also, in mid-June, do not go fishing with your hook or mind focused on fishing, as it is prohibited. After that period, you must not catch fish with empty hands and must have a fishing permit.
4. Photography
The definition of photography in this area, especially of Lake Gahar, is remarkable. It is one of the most pristine places in Iran, and I still cannot find words to describe the beauty of its light blue water, the dark tones of Lake Gahar in Dorud, the greenery of the plants, and the surrounding mountains.
5. Mountaineering
Whether you like it or not, you need to put on hiking shoes and warm clothes so that after mountaineering and mule riding, your eyes can feast on this lake surrounded by greenery and oxygen like you have never experienced before.
Of course, it is not bad to finally leave the city and the air of Tehran, or if you live in polluted cities, to detach from that polluted air and, after years, immerse yourself in walking and mountaineering.
The fact that this area is mountainous is enough to know that in autumn and winter it chills you to the bone. At night, if you don’t freeze, you’ll at least want to throw your hat in the air. In fact, the late days of spring, early and mid-summer, and sometimes early autumn are perfect for feeling a breeze on your face and the warmth of the sun caressing your cheeks.
Now, if you also want to enjoy its starry nights—one of the attractions of Dorud—for a greater experience, it is better to have some heating equipment with you to survive. I don’t know what all those mountains around a single lake are for, but this has kept it out of many people’s reach and preserved its pristine nature. On holidays, the crowd at Lake Gahar increases. I mention this so that on ordinary days, you can enjoy the lake and its surrounding attractions peacefully.
