'MILITARY REPORT ON PERSIA. VOL. IV, PART II.' [‎24r] (52/212)

Pars contains several of the salt lakes which are a peculiar Lakes
characteristic of Persia.
They are briefly described below : —
( 1 ) The Fdmur Lake, or Darya-i-Parishan ; in the Kazarun Famiir :
district, 13 miles south-east of the town of that
name ; a long narrow sheet of water stretching
north-west and south-east about 3 £ miles long by £
to 1 mile broad.
On its south side it is very shallow but doubtless
deepens towards the centre: lofty limestone hills
lie to north and south of it: it is fed by a stream
coming in from the south-east dose to the village of
Famur; its marshy banks afford excellent grazing,
and good shooting and fishing.
(2) The Dasht-i-Arjan Lake, in the plain of the same name? Daaht-i-Arjan.
dries up almost entirely in summer: extensive
marshes lie on its banks.
{3) Mahdrlu, the smallest of the three main salt lakes of Maharla *
Fars: situated in the Shiraz plain surrounded by low
hills : fed by the Shiraz stream and by the drainage
of Sarvistan. Extensive marshes lie at its northern
end, very shallow for more than a mile from the
shore; numerous fresh water springs exist along
its shores. Water-fowl abound.
(4) Nargis or Tashk, the second largest of the salt lakes of Nar 8 ls.
Fars, lying to the north of Lake Niriz, with which it
is connected by two channels and which it resem
bles generally.
(5) Niriz or Niriz Bakh/igan—The largest of the salt lakes Nirlz *
of Fars, lying 5 miles west of Shiraz. Length 60
k miles, breadth 3 to 5 miles: it receives the waters
of the Kur or Bandamir. In a dry summer
season the water evaporates entirely and the bed
may then be crossed on foot,; the salt which remains
is extensively collected ; it is of fine quality and much
in demand throughout Fars. Water-fowl such as
swans, flamingoes, and ducks abound. The shores
have no sandy beach, but consist of soft, fine,
evil-smelling mud. It contains no fish. There is a
fresh spring at Khur. Several wooded islets break
the monotony of the surface of the Jake.