Explore These Salt Lakes In The Middle East

When it comes to undiscovered treasures, the Middle East never lacks. Try these salt lakes if you want to snap photographs for Instagram or just have a relaxing day.

By NATALIE KEBBE

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Al Wahbah Crater

One of Saudi Arabia's most impressive natural wonders is the huge Al Wahba crater, a large hole with an opaque lake at its center. The volcano crater is a must-see because of its surreal aura, challenging hike, and serene white lake, where you may dip your toes.

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Al Wathba Salt Lake

The Long Salt Lake in Abu Dhabi, with its crystal-clear waters and snow-white sand, is the ideal setting for pictures. The Al Wathba reserve, which was formerly a coastal salt flat, has developed into lakes providing a habitat for a wide variety of animal species. It is unknown how these rare salt mushrooms, which would have taken a very long time to grow, arose in a man-made trench.

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Bimmah Sinkhole

One of Oman's most accessible natural wonders. If the local lore is true, swim in a location that was made by a meteor impact, but beware of the lurking aquatic monster. The sinkhole is close to Muscat and provides a variety of photographic options.

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Dead Sea

Jordan’s Dead Sea is a magnificent natural marvel that lies 427 meters below sea level. Since ancient times, tourists have been drawn to the extraordinarily warm, remarkably buoyant, and mineral-rich waters, including Herod the Great and the stunning Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. They've all luxuriated in the Dead Sea's thick, black, stimulating mud, floating easily on their backs and absorbing up the water's beneficial minerals.

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Lake Van

Lake Van and its environs in the eastern province of Van in Turkey have been listed as a “natural protected, sustainable conservation and controlled area.” A tourist attraction with a natural setting ideal for hiking and exploring. Only a small number of species, notably a fish known as darekh in the local language, have been able to adapt to life in its saline water.

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Namak Lake

This lake in Iran is largely dry, and the surrounding area gives an unearthly view; a piece of what was once the Paratethys sea, which dried up millions of years ago.