Zarivar Lake: The largest fresh water spring in Iran

Due to the ecological diversity in Kurdistan province, there are ecosystems, which are of greatest importance in terms of species diversity and rare plants. These ecosystems are present across the province, especially in the west. The Zarivar Lake is one of the most important habitats in the city of Marivan. This site is of great importance in terms of tourist attractions. As an ecological unit and an aquatic ecosystem, the Zarivar Lake is considered a very beautiful and rare phenomenon in Kurdistan, located in a relatively wide longitudinal valley and surrounded from the west and east by the mountains covered with forests. The dominant vegetation cover of the region is semi-dense forests, whose dominant species is oak, forming the tree and shrub elements together with Pyrus syriaca, Crataegus meyri, and Amygdalus lycioides. A dense vegetation cover of herbaceous plants covers wide areas of the lake. So far, 271 species, belonging to 53 families and 183 genera, have been identified and introduced around the lake. Some of the species, like Tetrataenium nephrophyllum, are endemic to the Zarivar Lake, and the others, like Carex pseudocyperus, are reported for the first time from the west of Iran. The presence of endemic and rare plant species in the Zarivar Lake doubles the importance of vegetation and conservation of these valuable plant genetic resources. The Zarivar Lake is also rich in fauna including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and numerous microscopic organisms are living in this habitat.