Upper Mashkid Dam

The Upper Mashkid Dam is one of the important water supply projects in eastern Iran. It was built on the seasonal Mashkid River in Mehrestan County, Sistan and Baluchestan Province. The dam is an earthfill dam with a clay core, and its storage capacity reaches about 67 million cubic meters. It was built to store floodwater and to supply four million cubic meters of drinking and agricultural water per year to the towns of Mehrestan, Sib and Suran, and Hidouch. Water is delivered to these areas through pipelines tens of kilometers long, which play a vital role in improving the region's water resources.

The artificial lake behind the Upper Mashkid Dam covers more than 1,180 hectares. Thanks to its geographic location and its small islands, it has become one of the most important habitats for migratory birds in eastern Iran. Every year, at the start of the cold season, more than 20 species of migratory birds travel here from northern countries and stay around the lake until the end of winter. Birds seen in this area include flamingos, pelicans, mallards, herons, cormorants, spoonbills and wild geese. This biodiversity has made the Mashkid Dam lake one of the key spots in the region for birdwatching and environmental studies.

Besides its environmental importance, the Upper Mashkid Dam is also known as a new destination for nature lovers. Activities such as boating, fishing and birdwatching are growing in the area. However, tourist facilities around the dam are still limited, and visitors should come well prepared. The lake is reached mainly by dirt roads and sandy terrain around the village of Kohan Kahur, and it is estimated to be about 30 kilometers from the town of Mehrestan. By combining economic, environmental and tourism functions, the Upper Mashkid Dam is regarded as one of the strategic points for sustainable development in eastern Iran.