Fire in Miankaleh

Miankaleh wildlife sanctuary, located in east Mazandaran Province, has been hit with a huge fire, the provincial office of the Department of Environment said. Despite the efforts of park rangers and locals, the fire, which started on Aug. 2, has engulfed a large part of the unique ecosystem of the peninsula, Mehr News agency reported. DOE announced that on Wednesday, the wildfire quickly spread in the wind direction. Miankaleh is a narrow and long peninsula situated in the extreme southeastern part of the Caspian Sea. It is spread over 68,800 hectares. The wetland is a wildlife sanctuary and hosts a number of endangered species, particularly aquatic migratory birds who flock to the site for laying eggs. The peninsula was registered in 1969 as a wetland of international importance under Ramsar Convention. In 1979, the peninsula was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.