Bakhtegan Lake

Lake Bakhtegan
Aerial view of Lake Bakhtegan
Former Lake Bakhtegan in the year 2013
Lake Bakhtegan is located in Iran
Lake Bakhtegan
Lake Bakhtegan
Coordinates29°21′55″N 53°50′19″E / 29.3654°N 53.8385°E / 29.3654; 53.8385
TypeSalt lake
Primary inflowsKor River
Basin countriesIran
Surface area3,500 km2 (1,400 sq mi)
IslandsMenak Island

Lake Bakhtegan (Persian: دریاچۀ بختگان) was a salt lake in Fars Province, southern Iran, about 160 km (99 mi) east of Shiraz and 15 km (9.3 mi) west of the town of Neyriz.

With a surface area of 3,500 square kilometres (1,400 sq mi), Bakhtegan was Iran's second-largest lake. It was fed by the Kor River.[1] The construction of several dams on the Kor River had significantly reduced the water flow into the lake, increased its salinity, and extirpated the lake's populations of flamingos and other migratory birds.[1] Lake Bakhtegan is now completely dry and the living species have either died or moved to other locations.