Hamun

Hamun refers to the Hamun Lake system, a seasonal wetland complex located in the Sistan Basin on the Iran–Afghanistan border. The term is used for the lakes, marshes, and surrounding wetlands that form the Hamun area, centered on Lake Hamun. The water body straddles Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan Province and parts of Afghanistan’s Nimruz and Helmand provinces. The system is fed primarily by the Helmand River; its size and depth vary with annual rainfall and river inflows, with floods filling the lake during wetter years and drought causing partial or full desiccation.

Ecology and economy: The wetlands support diverse migratory birds, fish, and pastoral livelihoods in surrounding communities. The site has long been recognized for biodiversity and as a critical habitat in an arid region. Environmental stress from drought, climate variability, and upstream water use has led to degradation: shrinking lake area, rising salinity, loss of vegetation, and threats to fisheries and grazing for livestock.

History and status: The Hamun region has historically been a vital resource for local people and wildlife. In recent decades, water management projects on the Helmand River, combined with prolonged drought, reduced inflows and caused periodic desiccation of parts of the lake system. Regional cooperation on water sharing and conservation efforts has been pursued, but the situation remains precarious and highly sensitive to climate variability and upstream use.

See also: Hamun-e Helmand, Sistan Basin, Helmand River.