Rigan Desert

Rigan Desert lies at the far southeastern edge of Kerman Province, near the town of Rigan. On its northeastern side it borders the Southern Lut, also known as Lut-e Zangi Ahmad. One of the region's most notable features is the Rigan River, which is known as one of the sources of the Shurgaz Hamoun salt desert. The river flows through Lut-e Zangi Ahmad and helps create biodiversity in the area.

The Rigan Desert area is covered mostly by sand fields (rigzar) whose composition and color differ markedly from other sand fields in Iran. The sand here is lighter in color than in other parts of Iran, probably because of the type of rock it is formed from. The sand fields extend east to west, about 20 kilometers from west to east and at most about 4 kilometers from north to south. There are several villages in the area, and the spread of the sand threatens the villagers' way of life. There are also sand dunes, the tallest of which reaches about 75 meters.

The desert is home to a variety of animal species, including the spiny-tailed lizard, which is currently endangered. This species is active on hot, sunny days and retreats to its underground burrows on cold nights. Other animals found in the area include the toothbrush-tailed lizard (pamesvaki), the two-legged worm lizard, the desert monitor, the sand fox, various snakes and scorpions, the houbara bustard, various agamas and geckos, falcons and owls, which together make for notable biodiversity in this area.

Autumn is generally the best time to visit Rigan Desert, as the weather in the desert is cool and pleasant during this season. To reach Rigan Desert, first make your way to the town of Mohammadabad in Kerman Province, then head east onto the road to Iranshahr. After 3 kilometers from Mohammadabad, turn left onto the road leading to Aliabad. After about 10 kilometers on this road, you will reach the village of Aliabad. The sand dunes are on the left side of the village, and you can drive toward the sand field and park your vehicle at a suitable spot before reaching the dunes. If you are driving a 4x4 vehicle, take care not to leave the road or damage the area's vegetation, because these plants play an important role in preventing sand from advancing toward the villages.