Kavir

Kavir is a Persian word meaning desert. In Iran, the term is used in geographic names to denote large arid regions, most notably the two major deserts Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut.

Dasht-e Kavir, often called the Great Iranian Desert, lies in central Iran and spans parts of several provinces. It is characterized by a vast salt plain in places, gypsum outcrops, sparse vegetation, and extreme temperature variation between day and night. The landscape includes salt flats and desert pavements and has supported nomadic and semi-nomadic life, as well as mining and mineral resources in some areas.

Dasht-e Lut, or the Lut Desert, is in southeast Iran and is renowned for its extreme aridity and heat. It features expansive dune fields and wind-sculpted yardangs. In 2016, the Lut Desert was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional landscape and climate, and it is regarded as one of the hottest places on Earth in terms of surface temperatures measured by satellites.

The term Kavir may also appear in the names of other desert-related regions, parks, or protected areas in Iran that aim to conserve desert ecosystems and the cultures adapted to them. Overall, Kavir describes Iran’s prominent desert landscapes, notable for their harsh climates, distinctive geology, and cultural history.