The mangrove forest in Qeshm is one of the special attractions of Iran and one of the unique manifestations of nature, to see it you have to take a boat to the heart of the salty waters of the Persian Gulf. This attraction, that has world fame, is considered among the natural heritage of the country. The charm of the mangrove forest is when these trees are submerged in water, and as the water level drops, a wonderful forest similar to science-fiction movies emerges from the water and amazes every viewer.
Mangrove forest, which stands out in the northwest of Qeshm Island, is one of the five forests of Hormozgan province and one of the biosphere reserves of Iran.
Mangrove forest is one of the famous places of Qeshm that is also known as marine forest. By moving through the waters of this forest, you will see green trees as if they have grown in the middle of a pile of wood. Interestingly, these sticks are actually the roots of trees whose ends are facing the sky. by turning the salty sea water into fresh water, they have been able to survive for many years in these conditions. The vegetation of these forests consists of “mangrove” and “chandel” trees. These beautiful trees come out of the water at low tide and sink halfway into the water with the tide. The tropical climate of these areas has also contributed to the growth of mangrove trees.
The mangrove forest has good ecological conditions, and therefore it is the habitat of migratory birds of tropical regions such as great heron, Indian heron, sharp-pointed sandpiper, Gilan Shah, Salim Ghazi, Kakai, etc. Also, various types of birds, aquatic animals and amphibians such as sea snakes and fish and turtles live in this area. It is interesting to know that 80% of the aquatic animals of the Persian Gulf spawn in this area.
Mangroves are trees with light green foliage with a height of about 3 to 6 meters that are mangroves. The bark of this tree has a purifying effect and they take sea water and absorb its sweet part by excreting its salt. Having said that, the mangrove tree can be considered a natural desalination plant. The trees of the mangrove forest are very old and are green in all seasons of the year, and for this reason, they are also known as the evergreen forest. With the arrival of June, the mangrove tree gives yellow flowers, which become very eye-catching and spectacular among its foliage.
The seeds of mangrove trees sprout on the tree; then, by separating from its mother base, it sinks into the flowers at the foot of the trees and a new seedling is born; this propagation style has created such a beautiful forest area. Mangrove trees have narrow, oval-shaped leaves and almond-shaped fruits that ripen in summer and fall into the water after a while and take root in coastal soils. The chandel plant also has white or yellow flowers that can be seen in winter and its brown fruit similar to a pear that ripens in spring.
Over millions of years, mangrove forests have been able to adapt well to tidal beaches and salty sea water, and it is not without reason that they are considered one of the most resistant plant species. The mangrove plant has short roots with a large number of secondary roots going up and growing up to 30 cm on average.
The mangrove forest is not limited to Qeshm Island and extends to the vicinity of Bandar Pahl, Bandar Khem and Hormoz Island. Some native people come to these forests during the fashion to engage in fishing or pruning trees. In fact, pruning helps to make the trees more productive, and on the other hand, natives can use them for personal use or sale.
The mangrove tree plays an important role in providing animal feed, charcoal production, wood production, paper pulp preparation, etc. In addition, the sap inside the vessels of this tree is useful for the treatment of common skin diseases in Hormozgan.
Due to their long life, mangrove trees have very strong trunks, and in the past, they used this advantage to build a wall. In fact, the first courtyard of Qeshm Island was built with mangrove wood.
The roots of mangrove trees act as a barrier against sea waves. Since the wood of these trees does not produce black smoke when burned, it is a good option for making charcoal. The fruits and leaves of these trees are also used as medicinal plants. The mangrove tree root acts as a natural barrier against sea waves and storms.
The water and mud of the mangrove forest contain salt and lime, and in the past people used its mud to lose weight. In this way, they would rub it on their body and after drying, they would wash themselves in water.
Mangrove forest is one of the tourist attractions of Hormozgan and is located in the Khoran Strait between a part of Hormozgan province and Qeshm Island. In fact, this forest is located on the northwest coast of Qeshm Island, and its most beautiful part is in the triangle of Bandar Laft, Koran village and Gorzin gas region.
From Qeshm coast, there is no land way into these forests and the only way to visit them is by water. Go with experienced captains who know the small waterways of this forest and can make seeing the Qeshm mangrove forest a memorable experience for you. To see the mangrove forest, you need to go to Tabal Village Wharf, Bandar Laft or Soheili Wharf and from there get on a boat and go to the heart of the forest.
Imagine that you are moving on a boat in the waters of the Persian Gulf; In the beginning, everything is normal until the mangrove trees appear from all sides and you are lost in its beauty wherever you look. In the cold seasons, you will encounter the beautiful view of all kinds of migratory birds.
While riding a boat among the beautiful trees of the mangrove forest, don’t miss the opportunity and record these memorable moments so that you will always remember your trip to Qeshm. Bird watching: As we said, the Qeshm mangrove forest is not only limited to trees and the sea, and during the boat ride, you will encounter all kinds of animals, from migratory birds to water birds, etc., which will double the pleasure of this trip for you.
