Khur Azini Wetland

The Khur Azini International Wetland is one of the four international wetlands in Hormozgan Province, recognized as one of the country's unique wetlands due to its mangrove forests of Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata. The Azini Wetland is located at the geographical coordinates of E5705 N2619, in the southeastern part of the Strait of Hormuz, Hormozgan Province. This wetland is situated south of the Biyabaan rural district, part of Minab County, and approximately 35 kilometers southwest of the city and port of Sirik.

Given the extensive wetland area in this district, rural population centers are generally located within a 5 to 7-kilometer radius of the wetland. Some of these villages include Gonari, Bazgard, Garandahu, Gaz Pir, and Mehregi. This wetland complex comprises a muddy, sandy intertidal expanse with large and small estuaries and scattered small islands, covered by mangrove forests of Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata between the two rivers Gaz and Hiv.

Azini Wetland is one of the most astonishing tropical wetlands in the country and is home to a mangrove forest comprising two superior species, Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata. The Chandal mangrove habitat exists solely in this wetland across the entire southern coastal region of Iran.

Due to its ecological diversity and unique geographical location, this mangrove forest is a valuable habitat for various plant and animal species and serves as an important wintering area for endangered bird species such as the grey-legged pelican, grey heron, great egret, coastal egret, white-browed godwit, and red-breasted godwit. This wetland is located 35 kilometers away from Sirik County and 210 kilometers from the center of Hormozgan Province.