Gandoman Lagoon is a wetland that is known as one of the top ten wetlands in Iran for bird watching and its name appears in the list of the International Office of Waterfowl Research in London. According to various sources, the area of Gandoman wetland reaches 1000 hectares and is located at an altitude of 2215 meters above sea level. Of course, in recent years, due to drought, the size of the wetland has been greatly affected by this issue, and at times the volume of water in it has greatly decreased for various reasons. Aqbalagh river, springs along the lagoon and rain and snow are the main sources of water supply for this seasonal freshwater lagoon and every year thousands of migratory birds come here to spend their winter period.
Gandoman Wetland is also one of the wetlands of the Ramsar Convention and preparations are underway to become an international wetland. In addition, the name of Gandoman Wetland has been on the list of prohibited hunting and shooting areas in the country since 1990.
Gandoman Wetland is one of the most famous bird watching areas in Iran and many migratory birds choose to spend their winter season here. This wetland is also one of the most important habitats in the country for the permanent habitat of native birds and the laying of migratory birds. In this lagoon, you can watch native birds and birds from regions such as Siberia, Central Asia, Turkey and even the north of the country, the most important of which are the families of ducks, Kashimas, Khotkas, herons, flamingos, etc. Of course, if you are lucky, you can also see rare species such as Morgus in this lagoon. In general, the best time to watch migratory birds in this wetland is from the end of October until the freezing of the wetlands, and an average of about 30 to 120 thousand birds visit this wetland per year.
Gandoman wetland is located on a large land and is surrounded by meadows, agricultural lands and natural springs. After visiting this lagoon, you can visit the springs around the lagoon such as Gol Koochak, Gol Bozorg, Moradan or Nasirabad springs and have a picnic. At times, you can also see nomads camping nearby, or villagers riding their horses in the meadows around the lagoon. If you are a fan of camping, you can spend a day around the lagoon and enjoy the mountainous climate of the area.
The minerals in the lagoon and the surrounding reeds and meadows catch fire very quickly, and through this the fire spreads rapidly throughout the lagoon. So far, the lagoon has been involved in large fires several times and many animal and plant species in it have been destroyed. So, when camping or picnicking near the lagoon, be very careful of the surrounding nature.
There are no special facilities around Gandoman Wetland and you have to take the equipment you need with you. Camping and accommodation in the cities around the lagoon, especially in the city of Borujen, are overnight options when traveling to Gandoman lagoon.
Apart from the birds that live in the lagoon, this lagoon also hosts other species of animals such as snakes, frogs, turtles, zebrafish, gypsy whitefish, snout fish and blackfish. Of course, because this wetland is a no-hunting area, you will not be able to fish in Gandoman wetland.
One of the best seasons to visit Gandoman Lagoon is spring, which has both a good climate and the possibility of bird watching. In summer, however, the water in the lagoon decreases and the view may not be very attractive. If you go to Gandoman Lagoon for bird watching, autumn, especially November and December, is the best time to visit here. In winter, the Gandoman wetland and the surrounding area become very cold and there is a possibility of freezing the wetland.
