Hesarchal Lake

Hesarchal Lake is one of the beautiful natural lakes of Mazandaran Province. It lies near the village of Rudbarak, 25 kilometres from the town of Kelardasht. The lake sits in the heart of the stunning Alborz mountains, on the route to Alam-Kuh, Iran's second-highest peak, in Mazandaran. Thanks to its natural glaciers, which survive even in the hottest days of the year, many tourists and nature lovers travel to this remarkable area in summer.

The Kelardasht region and the Hesarchal Plain are home to the Hyrcanian forests, which are considered among the most valuable forests in the world. These forests consist mainly of broadleaf trees such as oak, beech, hornbeam and maple. At higher elevations, the vegetation turns into mountain meadows and extensive pastures. These areas have various species of herbaceous plants and shrubs, such as milkvetch (gon), thyme and mountain barberry. In spring and summer, the Hesarchal Plain is covered with colourful wildflowers such as poppies, violets and a variety of medicinal plants, creating beautiful scenery. Because of its great plant diversity, the Hesarchal area has many medicinal plants, such as borage, yarrow and nettle, which are traditionally used. The region is also home to various species of mammals. Important mammals here include the brown bear, leopard, wild boar, fox and jackal. In addition, smaller species such as martens and hares are found in the area.

The best time to visit the area and Hesarchal Lake is usually summer and early autumn. At these times, the weather lets visitors enjoy the natural landscapes and beauty of the region at their best. Whatever the season you travel in, bring suitable mountaineering equipment and warm, appropriate clothing because of the region's mountain conditions. Hesarchal Lake, at an altitude of 3,900 metres, is formed by melting winter snow and is a beautiful and appealing tarn of its kind. The water of this lake is very cold, so you should be very careful if you want to swim at this altitude and in these air temperatures.