Afghanistan's Grand Canyon!

Band E Adir (Persian: بند امیر‎) is a chain of six lake divided by national dams located in Afghanistan's first national park,  Band E Amir National Park.  After decades of attempts failed attempts due to political strife, it's finally became a national park in 2009! Yeah!  They are located in the Hindu Kush mountains located centrally in the country.    They were created by carbon dioxide rich water oozing out of fault lines and fracture creating a travertine wall the keeps the water in place.

It is one of the few lakes in the world created by a travertine system and is hoped to become a popular tourist destination someday, however it has a few problems.  The surrounding roads were heavily mined by local mititias and Taliban and only a thin track is clear from mined that can be used by traffic.  The use of gasoline boats have been banned, which is a good start.  From the pictures, it appears to you can swan boats :).

The park has suffered ecological damage from various practices including unregulated grazing, fishing with use of electricity and grenades and uprooting shrubs.   Much of the wildlife has been lost..   The government has banned gasoline boats, which is a good start.  Instead, you it appears you can rent a swan boat for the day.