Meyghan Desert

Meyghan Desert, near the city of Arak, is one of the natural and tourist attractions of Markazi Province. It is highly significant because of the Meyghan Wetland and the migratory birds that visit it. The desert combines salt flats and wetland, and during the migration seasons it hosts thousands of birds, such as flamingos. This makes Meyghan a popular destination for birdwatching and nature tourism. The area combines a wetland ecosystem with a desert one, which makes it one of the most distinctive landscapes for nature tourism.

The climate of Meyghan is milder than that of Iran's central deserts: summers are hot but bearable, and winters are cold and dry. The vegetation includes salt-tolerant species such as salicornia and tamarisk shrubs. The diverse wildlife and the presence of migratory birds give the area special ecological and tourism value. Unlike a purely dry desert, Meyghan is a wetland-desert landscape, and in years with sufficient rainfall it periodically fills with water. At such times the depth of the wetland can rise to about 1.4 metres, which makes it one of the region's important habitats for migratory birds. Within this expanse there are areas of saline soil, and in some of them sodium sulfate is extracted, a material used in various industries including glassmaking, detergents and textiles. In addition, as part of environmental restoration projects, parts of the area have been seeded with plants such as atriplex to reduce wind erosion and strengthen the stability of the ecosystem.

Besides the experience of desert trekking, a visit to Meyghan Desert offers the chance to watch birds, photograph salt landscapes and walk in the silence of the desert. The area is easy to reach from Arak, and the best time to visit is autumn and winter. Travellers should bring basic desert-travel equipment, but because it is close to the city, the risks are lower than in Iran's other deserts. Responsible nature tourism is also essential to protect this fragile ecosystem: keeping the peace and quiet, staying out of the restricted wetland areas and taking care of the salt-loving vegetation are among the practices that help preserve the stability and health of this ecosystem.