Maharlu Lake, Salt lake in Fars Province, Iran

Maharlu Lake is a salt lake in Fars Province, Iran, set in a wide basin at about 4,800 feet (1,460 meters) above sea level. The lake is shallow and changes size with the seasons, leaving bright salt flats when the water pulls back.

The lake formed in a closed basin where water collects and then evaporates, leaving salt behind over a long period. In the twentieth century, the surrounding land was worked for salt and the lake became known to travelers passing through the region.

Locals know the lake as a place that shifts with the seasons, and shepherds sometimes lead their animals near the edge in drier times. The white crust has long been gathered by hand, and you can still see small mounds of salt left to dry along the shore.

The lake sits close to Shiraz, so you can reach the shore by car and walk out onto the dry flats where the ground is firm. Go in the cooler months and bring sun protection, because there is little shade and the reflection off the salt is strong.

When the water is low, the salt forms a pattern of white plates that crack underfoot with a sound like stepping on thin ice. The lake also attracts flamingos and other waterbirds in wet years, when the shallow water covers the flats again.