Iran seeks to develop twin ‘Siyah Gāv’ lakes in Ilam for tourism

Two crescent-shaped lakes known as Siyah Gāv in the Abdanan district of Iran’s western Ilam province are being considered for tourism development, according to provincial officials. The twin lakes, each more than 20 meters deep, are connected by a roughly 10-meter river channel, and their high water clarity gives visitors what officials described as a natural aquarium experience. Farzad Sharifi, director general of Ilam’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts department, said the area’s unspoiled landscape and scenery could turn it into one of the province’s tourism hubs. He said 2.8 billion rials from the national budget has been spent on improving access roads and landscaping the site. Abdanan district governor Behzad Nurmohammadi said the lakes rank among western Iran’s most important natural assets and that tourism could generate sustainable income and jobs in the area. He called for completing environmental works, accommodation and health services and signage, and said private investment and local community participation are needed for Abdanan to shift from a transit point to a tourism destination.