The Anzali Wetland Complex (approximately 19,000 ha) is located near the port city of Bandar Anzali in Gilan Province, North part of Iran along the Southern coast of the Caspian Sea. This site is one of the nearest wetland from Ramsar city which is the origin of the Ramsar Convention. The wetland was designated as a Ramsar site at June 23, 1975. A large, freshwater lagoon fed by several rivers and separated from the Caspian Sea by a dune system; supports extensive reed bed and abundant submerged and floating vegetation. The permanent wetland is surrounded by seasonally flooded marshes, farmlands (mainly paddy field) and fish ponds. The site is of international importance for breeding, staging and wintering waterbirds. This site was placed on the Montreux Record in 1993 due to degradations such as change in water level of the Caspian Sea, sedimentation, and water pollution etc.