The Magical Baluchistan:
Life in Extremes
Photo source: Amir Najafi (Christmas 2018)
Baluchistan is a region in the Iranian Plateau expanding to southeastern Iran, southern Afghanistan and southwestern Pakistan.
To the south, Baluchistan is surrounded by the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean.
The area is about 690,000 km² (compare with the area of Germany about 355,000 km²).
Photo source: Google Earth
The landscape is a combination of desert, mountains and coast.
This has protected people from invasion for thousands of years and preserved their cultural identity.
The picture shows the so-called "Mountains of Mars" close to the city of "Chabahar".
In summer it gets more than 40°C during the day on the dunes, for example in the village "Darak" (see picture).
In June 2022, the temperature in the region was around 50°C.
Source: Hamshahri
The soil is mostly very saline. Mangrove trees tolerate this (see picture). They are salt plants and grow on the Iran-Pakistan border, among other places.
In this harsh environment, agriculture is very costly and yields are scarce.
Photo source: Amir Najafi (Christmas 2018)
Livestock farming is more favourable: camels, cattle, sheep and goats can be used for many purposes - milk, meat products, clothing or fabrics.
Photo source: Amir Najafi (Christmas 2018)
The sea is used for fishing.
It is also the habitat of sea turtles, dolphins and humpback whales.
Source: IRNA News
But Baluchistan also has unique wildlife:
The Persian leopard still prowls wild - even though it lives in a highly endangered state.
But also Asiatic black bears, sand cats, swamp crocodiles and flamingos could be found.
Source: IRNA News
Photo source: Tehrantimes