LUT DESERT IN IRAN AND ITS RESOURCE UTILIZATION

The communication between China and Iran has a long history. The study of desert and its resource utilization in Iran can provide references for the protection and utilization of desert resources in China. The paper analyzes Lut Desert (Dasht-e-Lout) and its resource utilization through field investigation and reported data. Lut Desert, located in the southeast of Iran, stretching for about 10% of its territory, is one of the driest and hottest places in the world, with broad distribution of desert landscapes such as yardang, hamada and sand dune, as well as nabkha, large-scale erosive gullies, interconnected hydrological network, structural caves, and salt polygons. The local residents have exploited the spectacular landscape of Lut Desert to develop tourism, by digging karezs at the edge of desert and building flood intercepting and overflow dams to utilize the resources and ensure their survival and development.