Which desert in Iran is famous for the Yardangs of the Kaluts?

Which desert in Iran is famous for the Yardangs of the Kaluts? The answer is Dasht-e Lut, also called the Lut Desert.

Dasht-e Lut lies in southeastern Iran and is famous for its enormous wind-carved ridges, known locally as kaluts. Geomorphologists classify these landforms as yardangs: streamlined ridges sculpted as persistent winds drive sand across softer sediments. Some ridges extend for more than 40 kilometres, creating a landscape that resembles ruined cities.

The desert’s extreme appearance reflects both water and wind. Older lake and basin sediments were exposed as the region dried; seasonal runoff first cut channels, while powerful winds later widened and streamlined the ridges. The eastern Lut also contains extensive sand seas and high dunes, while salt flats and stony desert pavements occur elsewhere.

The Lut Desert became Iran’s first natural UNESCO World Heritage site in 2016. It is often associated with exceptional land-surface heat, but satellite temperature records measure the ground surface—not the air temperature experienced by people.