Hasanlu Wetland

Hasanlu Wetland, also known as Lake Hasanlu Dam, lies west of the Mahabad–Urmia road, about 20 kilometres east of Naqadeh. The wetland covers roughly 1,100 hectares and consists of a shallow, seasonally brackish lake fed by rainwater, springs and streams.

In recent years, a dam built on the wetland's outflow has made its water fresher and deeper. These changes have turned the wetland into a reservoir and created a new lake ecosystem. It has now become a lake behind the dam and is considered an ecologically important area. Dense vegetation grows from the northern part to the southwest of the international Hasanlu Wetland, and it is one of the wetland's tourist attractions. These plants include sedge, reed, saltwort and glasswort (Salicornia), a few of the 56 salt-tolerant and aquatic plant species found in this wetland.

The water of Hasanlu Wetland is used for agriculture, and the surrounding pastures are used for livestock grazing. In 1975 (1354 in the Solar Hijri calendar), Hasanlu Wetland, together with Yadegarlu and Dargeh Sangi wetlands, was registered as an international wetland, and hunting and fishing regulations apply there. The wetland is under the protection of the provincial regional water authority and welcomes a variety of birds throughout the year, adding to its beautiful scenery. Grey heron, various egrets and herons including the purple heron and the yellow (squacco) heron, ferruginous duck, white duck, kingfisher, chestnut duck, flamingo, marbled duck, black-winged stilt, pelican, tern, bittern and others are among the birds that live in this international wetland, either year-round or seasonally.