Though not as salty as Azulduth on the other end of the Shaar, Lake Lhespen is a mineral-laden body of water with salt-crusted shores that is unsuitable for most uses. Despite its inhospitable nature, several small villages and towns have sprouted up along its shores over the centuries, peopled by hardy souls who manage to eke out a living by gathering salt or harvesting the few fish that live in these waters. Nomads who do not wish to pay the higher prices for salt in Shaarmid to the north frequently come here to gather their own or trade for it. In addition, the occasional adventurer, wizard, or sage is attracted to the place by the various ruins scattered around the periphery of the lake - all remnants of older civilizations that occupied the Shaar in bygone days.
In recent years, however, the yuan-ti and the creatures in the bog to the east have made the area around Lake Lhespen more dangerous than ever. As a result, fewer and fewer caravans travel the road between Kormul and Shaarmid, preferring to utilize safer routes.