Lakes of Nayriz, Iran, seen by satellite - Neyriz Lakes, Iran - In southern Iran's...

Lakes of Nayriz, Iran, seen by satellite - Neyriz Lakes, Iran - In southern Iran's Fars province, the lakes of Bakhtegan and Tashk, better known as lakes of Nayriz “” appear on this image taken by ALOS, a four-ton Japanese observation satellite. Lake Bakhtegan (central) and Lake Tashk (upper), located in the Nayriz basin, are dirty lakes in the south-east of the Zagros Mountains, whose water levels fluctuate with rain and snow in the mountains. Lake Bakhtegan, the second largest lake in Iran, is fed mainly by the Kour River, while Lake Tashk receives the overflow from the marecages at its western extremite and from an important permanent north-west source. Although normally separated by narrow strips of land, during the years of heavy rain they can join and form only one lake. Similarly, after several years of low rains, as in 1934 and 1971, the lakes can be completely low except for the points closest to the springs. The two lakes, their delta and the morecages associated with the springs have been recognized as “wetlands of international importance”. The Bakhtegan National Park, a natural park, sanctuary and reserve, is visible in the center and top of the picture above Lake Bakhtegan. The ALOS satellite (Advanced Land Observing Satellite) took this image on 6 March 2009 with the AVNIR-2 (Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer type - 2) instrument, which is designed to map emergeal land and vegetation cover in visible and near-infrared spectral bands with a resolution of 10 m. Lakes Bakhtegan (centre) and Tashk (top), together known as the Neyriz Lakes, in the Fars Province in southern Iran are featured in this image acquired by ALOS, Japan's four - tonne Earth observation satellite, on 6 March 2009 with its Advanced Visible and Near Infrare