Miankaleh Wetland

Miankaleh Wetland lies in the southeast of the Caspian Sea, in Mazandaran Province, near the town of Behshahr. Part of the Miankaleh Peninsula, the wetland is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the north, Gorgan Bay to the south, Zaghmarz Wetland to the west and Ashuradeh Island to the east. It covers about 100,000 hectares, was designated a protected area in 1348 (1969) and was listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1355 (1976).

Miankaleh Wetland is home to more than 130 species of migratory and resident birds, which arrive in the area in autumn and winter. These include flamingos, white and Dalmatian pelicans, mute and whooper swans, white-headed ducks, lesser white-fronted geese and white-tailed sea eagles. Besides birds, the wetland shelters other animals such as jackals, wild boars, foxes, Caspian seals, wild cats and red-tailed wild horses. The vegetation of Miankaleh is highly varied: tamarisk shrubs and wild pomegranate, blackberry bushes, pomegranate groves, jujube (Ziziphus) woodlands, reed beds and coastal trees grow in different parts of the area.

To reach Miankaleh Wetland, you can head to the wetland from the city of Behshahr, which is 12 kilometres away. From the city of Sari, the wetland is about 55 kilometres away. The best time to visit is autumn and winter, when migratory birds are present. In these seasons, Miankaleh becomes one of the most popular birdwatching destinations. To enter, you need to obtain a permit from the Department of Environment, and it is recommended that you bring birdwatching equipment such as binoculars and suitable clothing. To protect the environment and avoid harming the wetland's ecosystem, it is essential to follow the principles of responsible nature tourism, including not entering restricted areas, not creating noise pollution and not harming plants or animals.