If you like to go on a trip that is realistic while being a science fiction trip, join me in this article. A trip to a marine forest called Mangrove Forest; A lot of trees that you have to ride a boat through waterways to see them and sometimes touch the shiny and evergreen leaves of the trees to believe that it is really a tree that grew in the salt water.
A forest whose glory can be seen better from above, pile after pile of green trees in the middle of the shining sea. It is said that the trees of this marine forest, which is called mangrove, grew from the tears of human eyes. Let's get to know this forest more in Ozhan agency tourism magazine.
When the water goes down, if we go to the mangrove forest, looking at the tangled roots that are like tree branches, the magic of the forest dissolves in us.
Seeing the mangrove forest with the eyes of logic and science in the first hour reduces the pleasure of this trip; So, first, we have to explore this 200 km forest in the northwestern edge of Qeshm with the experienced captain and float in the enchantment of the evergreen mangrove trees, and then we will find out how a tree grows in the water and why it is called a mangrove ecosystem.
All living things are living in the mangrove forest
When the water rises, the trees go down to the gorge and at first glance, they remain floating in a forest. The mangrove forest, which regularly sinks and comes out under the sea tide, its roots are found when the water recedes.
If we are lucky, we can also see the forest during the dry season, which at first glance seems to have grown between piles of wood, but these woods are the mysterious roots of the trees that have moderated the salty sea water around the forest, a natural water softener.
Except in Qeshm, the mangrove forest can be seen around Bandar Laft and Bandar Khemer, and it is a safe habitat for migratory birds from tropical regions. Such as great herons, great egrets, coastal egrets, Indian herons, sharp-pointed sandpipers, black herons, Gilanshah, kakai, etc. In addition to migratory birds, this forest is home to a colorful range of aquatic animals, birds and amphibians. Fish-eating chickens, herons, storks, ducks and seagulls, crabs, eels, shiloh, kling (a type of oyster), frogs, etc., all live in this forest. The sum of all these makes Qeshm mangrove forest the most beautiful tourist destination in Iran.
Mangrove forest, tears from human eyes that are not safe from human hands
The mangrove forest is located in the northwestern edge of Qeshm and covers an area of about 200 square kilometers, and is one of the 8 international protected areas of Iran. Of course, the total area of mangrove forests is 7,500 hectares, and the area of Qeshm Island is estimated to be around 2,400 hectares. Although the mangrove forests of Qeshm Island are the first in terms of quantity, Bandarpol, Hormoz Island, Bandar Khmeir, Laft, Tiab and Jask are also covered by a large number of mangrove trees.
It is interesting that the mangrove forest is the last vast collection of these coastal trees in Southwest Asia that has so far preserved itself from the hands of humans and its predators, but it is also in danger of destruction. Mismanagement in providing environmental water rights as well as abundant sedimentation in recent years has caused the forest to face drought; In addition to the drought, illegal and destructive constructions in the forest and human pollution should be added.
All this is happening while the name of this island is registered in the list of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Forests that are known by three global titles: International Protected Area, Biosphere Reserve and International Wetland.
Mangrove forest was introduced as "Mangrove Protected Area" in 1991 and was named as a national park in 1994 and finally in 1996 it joined UNESCO's global human and biosphere network and is still protected by the General Department of Environment of Hormozgan Province.
What are the plant species and characteristics of forest trees?
Now we have been floating under the spell of the mangrove forest for some time, and if we want to step into the world of science, which is no less complex and beautiful than legend and myth, I must say that maritime forests grow on the coasts of tropical and subtropical regions, and their amazing ecosystem in the world is The common name is mangrove and the scientific name is Oceana Marina.
These forests are known as mangroves in Iran; In Balochistan, these trees are called tamar, and in some places they are called tul, and in Arabic, they are called Shuri and Shura.
Mangrove is an ecosystem consisting of wetlands between the intertidal areas of the sea along with collections of unique plants and unique animals of the coastal and wetland areas. The mangrove forest in Qeshm Island and the southern coast of Hormozgan province is one of the largest and densest examples of mangrove ecosystem in the world, and this increases its importance for researchers from all over the world.
Mangrove plants cannot tolerate temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius, and salinity between 20 and 32 per thousand is their favorite for growth. Plants that are among the most resistant species and grow on the seashore with minimum requirements, provided that they are safe from the bite of man, this most destructive creature on earth.
The most spectacular and amazing part of this plant is its root; Short, shallow roots from which all the secondary, narrow and spongy roots grow up and go up to 30 cm above the ground. These roots gradually surround the tree and form a network and become an attractive and safe place for all kinds of animals to live in a swampy environment.
The roots reduce the salinity of the water so that it becomes suitable for plant nutrition. Sea mangrove forests sink into the sea water twice a day and come out, and this attracts many fish to the forest and it becomes a suitable place for fishing.
But the method of propagation of this legendary mangrove, which is a plant of the Shahpasand family: seeds grow on the mother tree and become seedlings, and then it is separated from the tree and falls into the swamp. Mangrove has oval leaves that are green and shiny on the top and white or gray on the back and are about 5 to 7 and a half centimeters long.
Mangroves also have beautiful almond-shaped fruits. The mangrove flower is also very small and it can be said that you can find it in the August season. A golden flower with 4 petals, each petal is not more than a few millimeters and it is not easy to see, but you can smell its sweet and cool fragrance from a few meters away.
From the top to the bottom of the legendary mangrove forest in human use!
Mangrove plant is sometimes used as dry fodder for livestock. Charcoal is also made from the wood of this tree, its wood is also smuggled, it is said that the bark of the mangrove tree is useful for treating leprosy, the sap of its vessels cures skin diseases, in industry, the tannin in the mangrove is used to produce mazo ink, board glue and paste. Wood is one of the other industrial uses of this forest, old people used the water and mud of this forest to rub the body to lose weight and...
Fun in the mangrove forest
In this forest, you can experience various activities.
A lasting nature tour
Boating is the only way to enter the marine forest, and of course, it is an exciting pastime in itself, especially if you are accompanied by a local guide who will take you through the spectacular and safe routes. If you visit the forest when the water recedes, you will have the chance to see the tangled roots of the trees that have grown in the mud and swampy environment.
My suggestion is to enjoy watching the scenery to your heart's content first and keep the moments in mind with your five senses and then take pictures of the scenery so that the memory will live on in your whole life by seeing the pictures.
Bird watching in silence
If you are a bird watcher and have realized the miracle of watching these colorful creatures in long silences, be sure to include the Qeshm mangrove forest as one of the best places for bird watching. The best time is December and February. With the explanation that you can also camp around the forest.
Visiting Shah Shahid Avazhkhan
The first beautiful sight on the way to the mangrove forest is the tomb of Shah Shahid, 11 km from Qeshm. A tomb on a hill, facing the sea and on the south coast of the island. The natives say Shah Shahid had a good and beautiful face and was skilled in playing the reed and singing and was said to be the owner of honors. Shah Shahid's tomb has a beautiful and spectacular architecture.
Camel riding in the sea
Watching a forest floating in water while riding a camel can make your memory of seeing a forest more fantasy. The combination of the sea and the animal that is special to the desert and the forest that belongs to the land.
Tourist attractions near this place can be mentioned as follows:
Bam Qeshm is 7 km away
The valley of the statues is 8 km away
Chahkoh Gorge is 26 km away
The Portuguese castle is 34 km away
The historic cemetery of Laft village is 35 km away
Star Valley is 53 km away
Readings about the mangrove forest that you did not know
* The scientific name of the mangrove tree is Abu Ali Sina.
* The water level in the Qeshm mangrove forest is always at low tide. During high tide, it rises up to the throat of the tree, and during low tide, they grow on land.
* A large number of mice is a pest in the forest, but the ferrets of the mangrove forest have drawn the famous African falcon called the cucumber-breasted falcon to this forest.
* Mangrove has a crab, which the natives call the guitarist crab, one hand is short and the other hand is long and looks like a guitar.
* More than 8 types of eagles and birds of prey live in the mangroves.
* Gal Khork fish, which is native and rare in this forest, survives on dry land as long as its body is moist and breathes with its skin and feeds on mud, and when the moisture is exhausted, it returns to the water.
* The trees give fragrant flowers in the early summer and a fruit that the old natives call Khark or Kong in the late summer. Its fruit turns green, yellow and then black. Inside the fruit, it sprouts on the tree and then it separates and falls, and wherever it falls, it stops and grows and becomes another mangrove.
* The first courtyard of Qeshm was built from the trunks of mangrove trees.
* The wood of mangrove trees does not have time to burn black smoke and also absorbs salt water and fatty substances and is suitable for charcoal.
Let's go to the mangrove forest with migratory birds
From late autumn to late April is the best time to visit the protection forest. The weather is nice and pleasant and it is the season of bird migration. If you want to enjoy both bird watching and good weather, Bahman and Esfand are golden times.
In April, the number of migratory birds decreases and it is Nowruz holiday, and if you hate crowds like me, you prefer to watch in silence and hear the sound of birds and water waves more than humans.
Where is the mangrove forest?
This forest is located in the Khoran Strait between Qeshm Island and a part of Hormozgan Province, the boundary between the north of Qeshm Island and Khamer Port.
How to go to the mangrove forest?
To go to the mangrove forest, which is located between the north of Qeshm Island and Bandar Khmer, we go to Qeshm from Persian Gulf Boulevard, about 52 km. There is only one other way to visit the enchanting mangroves, and that is to rent a boat with a skilled captain who knows the waterways and knows when and where to go so that we don't get caught in the forest when the water recedes, although stranded boaters notify others by wireless. And help arrives.
To watch from the distance of the forest, you can camp near the beach and enjoy the nature and watch the local bazaars with the beautiful handicrafts of local women and men. to display
Know the mangrove forest to fall in love with it!
You should visit this forest of deception, a visit based on the awareness that the more aware we are, the more our love and affection will be.
If we know that the marine forest we are going to visit is one of the most strange and complex ecosystems in the world, in addition to floating in the enchantment of foliage and roots and enjoying the silence and the sound of birds, we will also fall in love with it. Love comes from belonging, and it is belonging that makes us want what we love always alive, always faithful, always lasting... to visit the mangrove and want it alive and growing and green for all generations.
