Lar National Park, a magnificent protected area
The magnificent Lar National Park is located at the foot of the Alborz Mountains, near the southwestern foothills of Mount Damavand. It’s between Mazandaran and Tehran provinces, about 70km northeast of Tehran, and has an overall area of 73,500 hectares.
This breathtaking Iranian national park includes two different ecosystems: the aquatic and the montane. Being the natural habitat of various animal and plant species, due to its special features and unique wildlife, Lar National Park is protected by the Department of the Environment, cheetah-adventures.com wrote.
There are no cities or villages inside or in the vicinity of this park, giving you the opportunity to admire the beauties of this intact paradise on Earth.
The mighty Damavand summit and its western ridge – the most symmetrical face of the mountain – are visible from Lar National Park.
Furthermore, Lar Lake, or the so-called Lar Dam, is one of the best attractions of this national park, located 20km from the city of Lar.
On clear days, Lar Lake can be seen from the Damavand summit; it is a sign pointing to the west. This beautiful lake is also visible from Damavand’s southern route, when you reach nearly 4,000m of elevation.
Wildlife
Lar National Park is the natural habitat of many animal and plant species due to its climate and the existence of several rivers. Almost all animal species found in the central Alborz Mountain region can also be seen in this area. The variety of wildlife in Lar National Park is one of its most interesting features.
Fauna
Lar National Park is home to a total of one hundred bird species, with the most famous one being the golden eagle, a unique bird found only in Iran.
Various bird species such as partridges, Caspian snowcocks, great egrets, grey herons, cormorants, kestrels, cranes, common buzzards, and eagles can be seen in different seasons. This makes Lar National Park a very attractive destination for birdwatching.
Lar National Park is also the natural habitat of many mammals such as red mouflons, sheep, wild goats, leopards, wolves, bears, foxes, wild boars, and jackals. The population of some of these mammals has grown in the past few years as a result of living in a safe environment. Furthermore, many reptiles and amphibian species, and aquatic animals can be found in Lar area such as Latifi’s vipers (Lar Valley viper), meadow vipers, monitor lizards, frogs, lizards, Montpellier snakes, and brown trout, which is a unique species of fish.
Flora
A total of 400 plant species, belonging to 48 plant families, exist in Lar National Park. Among these various species, 338 live in the area permanently and 35 are found only in Iran.
The variety of plants found in Lar National Park is one of its unique and interesting features. Some of these plants are edible and have medicinal properties. In addition, Lar National Park is covered with beautiful flowers such as iris, woolly buttercup, and Lar poppy, turning it into a stunning scenery. This region is also used for beekeeping due to the existence of meadows and a variety of plants. The beekeeping season in Lar National Park is usually from June to September.
Lar National Park and its surrounding area is a popular ecotourism destination because of its breathtaking landscapes, amazing natural attractions, and wildlife. This region is also used for research projects. If you have some time after climbing mount Damavand, or on your way to Mazandaran Province, don’t overlook the astonishing beauty of Lar National Park and Lar Lake.