Parviz Kardavani, 80, is an Iranian geographer known as the father of Iranian desert studies due to his extensive research and works related to deserts. Kardavani has been honored as a luminary in the field of geography and is currently compiling his postulate on deserts.

In this new theory which is founded on Iran’s large kavir areas and salty soils even one inch of kavir areas and salty soils is not unusable. Kardavani opines that in the past, these regions were regarded as unusable, ominous, damned as well as horrifying and viewed as barriers to economic development. But, today these areas can be important, recoverable and sustainable economic resources and help appeal to tourists. He said that from now on countries that have kavir areas should be viewed as rich areas of the world.

Currently, Kardavani in his theoretical capacity in University of Tehran, which is also labeled ‘Kavir Think Tank’, is trying hard to finalize his theory and prepare it for presentation to international centers and also the UN.

He noted, “Upon completion of this project, which is undergoing its final phases, anybody who wants to do research on kavir and salty soils should come to Iran and obtain specialized information from the Kavir Think Tank.”

Parviz Kardavani

Following is the text of interview with Parviz Kardavani to shed more light on his research endeavors:

A: Based on the viewpoint of the UN, countries are no longer viewed as rich and powerful by relying on canons and tanks and even energy resources like oil and gas and only those countries which are successful in generating knowledge and presenting scientific innovations are on top. 

Consequently, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) called on researchers and thinkers of different countries to present their theories on scientific and technological issues in various sectors. 

Therefore, given my track record in kavir studies, University of Tehran (UT) requested me to present my theory on kavir. This theory was presented and defended in a session at the presence of professors from different universities and some officials. UNESCO has accepted the generalities of this theory, which has also been presented in a book I have published in German and English languages. My theory suggests that even one inch of kavir areas and salty soils is not unusable.

At present, a large room in Geography Department of UT has been established as Kavir Think Tank for continuing work on this theory and UT has accepted to pay for the full costs of this project. When the procedure for registering this theory is completed, any person in the world who wants to do research on kavir and salty soils should come to Iran. This undertaking requires more financial support in order to be completed.

A: At first, kavir or salt-land should be separated from desert. Salt-land can have flora and not have fauna. 

The good example of kavir with flora is the central Iranian kavir which is surrounded by fauna while it has no fauna in between. This kind of kavir has tourism appeal and kavir trees are especially beautiful in spring. In the same way that northern forests of the country are very attractive in autumn and leaves have bright yellow, red and green colors, there are trees in kavir which are green in spring with purple flowers. Kavir also has other plants which are either completely green or completely white. This diverse and colorful flora can by itself attract many tourists and the situation would further enhance when camels and gazelles also exist in these areas.

A: This type of kavir can be distinguished based on salinity classification. One type of this kavir is shaped as a polygon and contains sodium chloride which has wide usages. 

Sodium chloride is poured in oil wells so that oil is separated from water and exploited. It also has applications in petrochemical industries. Another type of kavir contains mineral salt which absorb humidity and is used for preserving various materials. There is also another type of kavir whose soil contains sodium phosphate. This substance is used in making glass, paper and detergents. Sodium sulfate mixes with oxygen and sulfide sodium is produced which can be poured in iron and metal mines and separate metal materials from iron ore. This by itself saves millions of dollars for iron industries and there no longer would be any need for imports.

 Q: How can the potentials that you mentioned be tapped for economic and industrial purposes?

A: All the said advantages of kavir have economic roots. The government should set up industrial townships on the sidelines of kavir and facilitate making good use of these features instead of focusing on poor villages near kavir areas. The salt in kavir areas is endless and it is not like the salt in mountains which erode after a while. When sodium sulfate in salt-lands is exploited after a while it grows back. Moreover, the most significant element of kavir is the hot sun and permanent winds which can be utilized in the energy sector. At present, some European states have gained control over thousands of hectares of Algeria’s desert in return for large sums of money and have generated electrical power from solar energy and transferred it to their territories. This is while Iran has the largest and hottest salt-lands in the world. The second largest salt-land in the world pertains to Bolivia. Iran’s Kavir-e Lut is the hottest spot and the largest salty area in the world and its hottest location is situated in Shahdad’s Gandom Beryan.

We can supply the vast energy resources required for sweetening water of seas from kavir areas. Thousands of hectares of salt-lands can be allocated for launching solar and wind parks.

Meanwhile, salty water is found in abundance in kavir areas. The value of salty water is more than sweet water. Currently, billions of rials have been invested in Kavir Plain and salty water is exploited by Germans, evaporated in big ponds and then different types of salt are extracted.

A: Another part of kavir capabilities is linked to tourism attractions. Kavir is so beautiful that everybody needs a piece of it for relaxation.

Kavir areas are beautiful during days and chilly at nights. Kavir has mirages. If salt-lands have flora, from a distance bushes look like tall trees which have grown on seabed and areas with vast water resources. Not to mention that the stars of the kavir are magnificent. In the cool of night in kavir, the sky is filled with numerous small and big stars, as if they could be picked out easily by any observer.

All over the world, tourism revenues pertain to nights but in Iran we do not yet have night tourism. This is while our deserts and salt-lands have beautiful attractions at nights. Many globe-trotters can be attracted to come to Iran to enjoy the stars as well as sunrise and sunset in kavir areas. Dry salt-lands are suitable for holding auto racing, motorcycle contests and camel riding. The sand of the kavir can be used for sand therapy.

(Source: IRIB)