I'm really concerned about the environmental impact of this thing, if it ever comes to fruition. Connecting a fresh water lake (at least in the souther portion) to a salt water Persian Gulf...and what would that do to the ever diminishing water levels in the Caspian Sea and its tributaries? Also, what about the marine life in the Caspian Sea? How will those fresh water creatures such as the endangered Beluga Sturgeon deal with what could be a catasrophic environmental change? 

This may look like a good political propaganda project, but even I, with my limited knowledge of the environmental challenges, can see the huge ecological problems associated with it.

Will you be able to fish in this canal?

Ao jaan, Caspian Sea is not fresh water in any parts if I remember correctly. However, two main concerns:

1. The echo system in Caspian and Persian Gulf are different. How will this impact marine life in both places? Not that the turbans care or know!

2. This thing will never finish if the highway between Karaj and Chaloos is any indication. Its been over 20 years and only a stretch of highway about 20-30 KM is finished. Too much corruption, dozdi (thievery) and a messed up beuroucratic good for nothing incompetent system will get in the way!

I agree dear COP. And we're not dealing with an efficient, transparent system here. We're talking about the IR and Russia. Two mafia governments. It'll be a free-for-all for bribery, thievery, etc...

The southern part of the Caspian Sea is fresh water.

Good point: two criminal enterprises will mock this up real well.

Just think about it: how many billions has the Russian mafia received from Iran for that junk reactor in Bushehr? How long have they been "working" on it? Three decades almost? Has it produced a KW of electricity yet? That should give you an estimiate of what a disaster this project will be.

AO jan

Allah is on our side my friend. Rest-assured that any environmentally strategic and vital decision that are made by our politician, who god knows how much talent they have in their possession, has the almighty's total and unwavering support and just that you have to trust them and leave such matters in their capable and heavenly hands...

They, i mean we, I mean the eeeraneeean peepel, Don't need any help or consultation or advice from no one, unless they end f...things up real good and that is when they start begging for help while continuing to use deragetory language against the whole word.

Allaho akbar brother. God bless our brothers In Hammas and Sisi...

Wow!! Woww! This is how every single subject in  this site ends up to be linked to the "IRI criminal".... Welcome to the Paranoia wonderland of Iroon.com This is not a project yet! It is just a discussion... I took this news from a discussion at facebook, which I found very informative ... While here, we see only the accusation and paranoia, in the other discussion at facebook, people only talked about the real problems and potential troubles.... I see us as a bunch of "old souls" tired by years of forced immigration who is gathering here just to blame one (or a group) of elemnt for our miseries.... Let's get out and smell the rose..... baba valla be khoda the world will continue to turn even without our inputs

Actually Souri--we may not be as young and energetic as you are, but governments all around the wrold (including the U.S.) are directly responsible for setting environmental policies, and blame for shortcomings always (99%) of the times falls at their feet. In fact, this is what the majority of my job consists of: debating governmental enivronmental policies, not relating to rivers, lakes and such like her, but specifically relating to matters related to animal migration, habitat, protected zones, etc. (that's why I said I don't know much about this particular subject). I've even testified before government panles on these issues. I blame the U.S. government (both state and federal) too for its numerous environmental shortcomings as well. Even the IR officials criticize their environmental policies. You seem to be the only one who wants to avoid all discussions about IR's environmental policies, which is very strange. Even the NY Times had a critical video report about it which was allowed by the IR. The reporter lives in Iran with his Iranian wife.

And when it comes to corruption....PUHLEEEZ....even the IR itself openly complains about it. Don't believe me, ask Ahmadinejad's deputy who is sitting in Evin for corruption. Even Khamenei HIMSELF talked about it less than two weeks ago when he complained about the "new rich class" and their transgressions. Again, you're going even beyond the IR in trying to whitewash that whole subject. 

What is your problem AO?
When you say that "I am the only one who wants to avoid all discussions about IR's environmental policies" you are not fair! But coming from you, this doesn't bother me at all.
FYI, this same link posted by myself here, shows that I wanted a discussion about the "environmental problems" of this subject!
But you guys jumped right away over the ".... two criminal enterprises...." whatever
And in the last paragraph of your comment:
Who said I am trying to whitewash anything?
Whitewashing what?
Are you okay?
You throw accusation and then you get the conclusion by your own measure?
Did we talk "corruption"  and I said that the IRI is not corrupted?
You either  didn't get my point deliberately, or....
Your mind is already set about me!
And to be honest, I don't care which one is the case!
 

No worries here, with Russians undertaking this project it will be done on 2315! The good thing about this project is it will provide Russians zillions of  dollars of money and that should make Tudehy crowd  very happy!

Every subject is linked to the Islamist regime, because they control every freaking thing there is in Iran, and then some! And, most of the locals here aren't friendly to the brutal clergy and their corrupt to-the-core rule, so discussions spawn given a major undertaking like this. 

Criminal Enterprise is the perfect reference to both gov, I say governments.

But............rest assured though that a project of this magnitude will never materialize, since for this, you'll need: Dedication, Honesty, Organization and Discipline neither of which is currently available in Iran and her so called government! Even back we were not "old souls", some of these characteristics were hard to come by, let alone now.

Thanks for your comment, dear Ex-COP

Any time Souri jaan, any time :-)