Bafq Desert (Kavir)

The Bafq Desert is located in Yazd Province and forms part of the arid, desert landscape of Bafq County. This desert region, sometimes also known as the "Daranjir Desert of Bafq", is considered one of the most mysterious and unspoiled natural landscapes in Yazd Province. The Bafq Desert also lies near protected areas that are home to valuable species such as the Asiatic cheetah, the goitered gazelle (jebeer) and the Persian onager, which gives the region special environmental importance.

The geology of the Bafq Desert is a combination of sand dunes, salt areas and dry desert terrain. The total area of the desert is estimated at approximately 750 square kilometers. Average rainfall in this region is very low, so vegetation is sparse and limited. The central part of the desert is almost devoid of plants, but along the edges of the salt flats, plants such as tamarisk (gaz) and saltwort (eshnan) grow. In the steppe areas and along the sandy margins, species such as milkvetch (gavan), garden cress-type plants (tarehtizak), wild iris, mountain anemone (poppy) and camel thorn are found, all highly adapted to the region's dry and saline conditions.

The usual starting point for reaching the desert is the city of Bafq. The best time to visit the Bafq Desert is recommended from early autumn to early spring, because daytime and nighttime temperatures are milder and nature touring and camping are more enjoyable. In the Bafq Desert, popular activities among travellers include walking across the sand dunes, camping overnight while watching the starry sky, and photographing desert landscapes.