| Namak Lake | |
| Location: | 40% in Aran va bidgol County (Isfahan province)30% in Qom province 30% in Semnan province |
| Coords: | 34.5°N 103°W |
| Type: | Salt lake |
| Inflow: | Qom River |
| Outflow: | Evaporation |
| Basin Countries: | Iran |
| Max-Depth: | 1m (03feet) |
| Elevation: | 790m (2,590feet) |
| Islands: | Sargardan island |
| Cities: | Aran va bidgol |
| Pushpin Map: | Iran |
| Part Of: | Isfahan province |
Namak Lake (Persian: دریاچه نمک|Daryâče-ye Namak, i.e., salt lake) is a salt lake in Iran. It is located approximately 100km (100miles) east of the city of Qom and 60km (40miles) of Aran va bidgol at an elevation of 790m (2,590feet) above sea level.
The lake is a remnant of the Paratethys sea, which started to dry up from the Pleistocene epoch, leaving Lake Urmia and the Caspian Sea and other bodies of water. The lake has a surface area of about, but most of this is dry. Water only covers . The lake only reaches a depth between 45cm (18inches) to 1m (03feet).
The air in this area is very dry and the temperature difference between day and night reaches 70 degrees Celsius.[1] Due to the high rate of evaporation and very high salinity of the water, Qom's salt lake has a desert-like structure and is covered with thick layers of salt. Also, this lake is known as the habitat of some special plant and animal species that have the ability to live in the harsh and salty conditions of this region.[2]
Aliabad Caravanserai, Red Castle, Desert National Park, Sefidab Caravanserai and Manzariyeh Caravanserai are some of the sightseeing places in Qom around Namak Lake.[3]