Sorkhankol Protected Area

Sorkhankol Protected Area covers 1,214.24 hectares, with a perimeter of 17.14 kilometres, and lies in Bandar Anzali. The area was placed under protection on 21 Khordad 1381. To the east it borders the Siahkeshim Protected Area, and to the west it adjoins the Selkeh Wildlife Refuge. Two rivers, the Hendkhaleh and the Siah Darvishan, flow along its eastern and western sides respectively.

The wildlife of the Sorkhankol refuge includes migratory birds such as geese, swans, purple swamphens, gulls, coots, grebes and various kinds of ducks. The area's aquatic resources include both native and migratory fish. The native fish are the Caspian roach (Hashtrakhan), perch, bream, pike, and carp, while the migratory fish include Caspian kutum (Sefid Kuli), white fish and Siahkuli. The dominant plant species here are reed and bulrush, and the other vegetation in the area includes azolla, water lilies, marsh tulips, bladderwort (Se-kuleh-khiz) and reed beds. The water lily beds are the habitat of the common tern, and the main place where they lay eggs and raise their chicks is on a plant called "Sekuleh-khiz". "Sekuleh-khiz" is a floating aquatic plant with a one-year life cycle and fibrous roots.

If you want to enjoy the beautiful sight of the water lilies, you must pass through the Sorkhankol area. Because the water lily area is a nesting site for terns, excessive passenger boat traffic here has disturbed nesting and reduced the birds' breeding success. For this reason, motorboats, fishing and hunting are banned in this area.