Iran’s Popular Attractions|part2
Iran’s Popular Attractions
Historical Sites
PART2
Kish’s Underground Kariz
According to the low depth of Kish, Kariz underground city depth is about 12 meters below the ground with a height of 8 meters. This underground city contains 3 aqueducts and 274 wells including recreational sites and facilities for visiting ancient aqueduct of Kish Island. Some of these wells are completely intact and some others have been made in the form of a cone for better air conditioning and lighting. The aqueduct in Kariz Underground antiquity is over 2500 years old and it supplies the fresh water potable for residents of the islands.
Mofakham Edifice
Mofakham Edifice, the biggest and the most prominent architectural monument of Qajar era was built by Yar Muhammad Khan Shadlo who was known to Mofakham commander at the time of Nasser al-Din Shah Rule. It has been the residing place of his family and reception of official and political men in the 1300 AH decade.
Noosh Abad Underground City
Noosh Abad underground city known as “Ouei” and the largest underground city of the world, with human made architecture constructed on three floors with the military and defense applications.
Shams-E-Tabrizi Tower
Beside the Mausoleum of Shams-E-Tabrizi, one of the famous mystics, 584-645 AH, and disciple of Rumi, one of the most famous Iranian poet, a cylindrical tower has been constructed by Shah Ismail Safavi who had a particular devotion to Shams. This hollow tower is one of the unique monuments in this region. This monument classified to two parts due to its form.
Maragheh Observatory
Maragheh Observatory was one of the largest and most famous Islamic observatory in the world with great observational instruments of high precision, related to the period before the telescope was invented. The building was founded by Khawaja Nasir-e-Din Tusi order, the philosopher, mathematician and the great astronomer of the Illkhani and the command of Holaku khan on a hill in West Maragheh. The Illkhani famous horoscope is also provided at this location. There are 17 architectural units on the observatory hill one of them is related to the installation after the destruction of the observatory and the rest are units constituting Maragheh scientific complex beside each other.”
The Mirror Room
This house with 140 years antiquity is one of the most magnificent houses related to the Qajar era in Shahr-e Kord. Its alcove architecture is crossover which was common in the Qajar residential architecture. The mirror room is a part of a big edifice belonged to Mahmoudieh family consisting of Barband, Miansara (the central yard of the building), courtyard, backyard, warehouses and the rooms decorated with mirror.
Amir Chakhmaq Complex
Amir Chakhmaq Complex is one of the most significant historical complexes in Yazd which is located in the middle of the old architectural context and it is one of the important strategic zones of Yazd. This valuable complex which is the point of main streets includes Mosque, Tekye, a place to hold the religious mourning, Sati Fatemeh mausoleum, Haji Ghanbar bazaar, Sati Fatemeh cistern, Palm and cistern of Amir Chakhmaq.
Tarikhane Damghan
Tarikhane, means God’s house, is one of Damghan’s heritages, before the domination of Arabs in Iran, which initially was a fire temple and then turned into a mosqueover the centuries and has been repeatedly repaired.
Great wall of Gorgan
Great Wall of Gorgan with the names of “Red wall” or “Red Snake” is one of the most obvious Iranian architectural monuments, the third long wall of the world after the Great Walls of China and Germany. This wall is noted in the Historical documents as Eskandar Dam, Anushirwan Dam, Firouz Dam and Qezel Alan. This wall relates to the late of Sassanid era which has been constructed to prevent from invading the northern enemies to both mountainous and plain areas in 5th and 6th century AD.
Ferdowsi Tomb, Tus
Ferdowsi is quite well-known as the saviour of our language, Farsi. A few centuries after the Arab invasion, amongst the offense and mayhem caused by the accompanied language, Arabic, Farsi was gradually fading out. In order to revitalize the language, Ferdowsi opted for poetry and epic. Although, prior to him, there were other poets, attempting to fight for the language through poetry, he was the one who put in thirty years in order to foster the foundation of language, word by word, as he, himself, said:
“Much I have suffered in these thirty years,
I have revived the language with my verse”.
Taq-Bostan
Taq-Bostan historical site is located on a hillside with the same name and next to the fountain in the northeastern fringes of the city of Kermanshah. The complex is built in the third century AD and enjoys a great artistic and historical value.
Karaftu Cave
Undoubtedly, Karaftu Cave is one of the most attractive ancient Iranians tourist sites created with no electric tools and only with hand instruments. The cave is a natural limestone cave which likely formed during the Tertiary geological era. Karaftu cave has a special reputation among the caves in all around the world, because of the changes, transformation and manipulation in the Karafu cave and creating the nested spaces for rooms, hallways and corridors through it during human habitation in this place in the past. The cave is unique in terms of building form.
Hafezieh
Hafezieh, the unique mausoleum of the eighth century Iranian sonneteer, Hafez Shirazi, is one of the most popular tourist attractions among Iran and Fars province celebrities. At first, Shams al-Din Mohammad Yaghmaei, minister of Abul Qasem Gurkani, Fars’s ruler, built a dome over Hafez grave and a large pool in front of it that was filled by Rokn Abad water in 865 AH, 1452 AD. The building was repaired and some parts were added to it in later periods.
Masjed-e Jame of Saveh
Masjed-e Jame of Saveh is one of the first mosques built in Iran and is considered as one of the valuable works of art, architecture, painting, tiling and stucco, which are all made of mud brick. This building has undergone many changes during different historical periods that includes three historical periods of Sassanid, early Islamic and Safavid eras
Niavaran Cultural Historical Complex
Niavaran cultural historical complex in the north of Tehran, belonged to the Qajar and Pahlavi’s eras, is located in a large garden that enjoys the beauty and charm of the amazing architecture, nature and history. Firstly, Niavaran complex was designed as a place for welcome of the royal and high ranking guests of the court but it was allocated to the place of accommodation of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his family through some changes during its construction.
Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque
Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in the Goud-E-Araban district close to the famous Shah Cheragh Mosque in Shiraz. Mirza Hasan Ali, also known as Nasir-al-Mulk, was one of the Qajar dynasty’s grandee who ordered the construction of this building. Mohammad Hassan Memar was the architect of the 2212 square meter mosque. The construction and building of the infrastructure of the mosque lasted about 12 years, 1914 to 1926.
Hindu Temple
This temple is built in 1310 SH by Indian merchants of Shikarpur city in the west of India, for the Hindus who lived in Bandar Abbas and were busy with commerce during Mohammad Hasan Khan Sa’ad al-Malek reign since 1300 to 1344 SH.
Kul-E-Farah Ancient Area
This ancient area is located in the region named Kul-E-Farah, a very natural, deep and narrow valley, at the end of Izeh plain. There are two large and irregular stone at the right side of this valley entrance beside the range of mountains with some beautiful and elegant designs of the image of human and animal in the modes of prayer and respect, carry the Gods, sacrifice and performing the music; they are the first depiction of human insight on religion and customs.
Hasht Behesht
The Hasht Behesht historic mansion was one of the last palaces of the Safavid kings in the past which has been known as the most beautiful palace in the world. The mansion is located in the large garden that is a part of the Naghsh-e Jahan garden, Nightingale Garden, built on the order of Shah Ismail I.
Haj Agha Torab Hammam
Haj Agha Torab Hammam, one of the buildings related to Qajar era, built by Haj Mirza Mohammad Taqi (one of the city’s donors), has been famous by his son name, Haj Agha Torab and also is best-known as twin bathrooms.
Constitutional House
Constitutional House is one of the most famous and honorable historical houses of Iran, which was the place of fateful decisions by constitutional leaders at the climax of constitutional revolution. This building was the private estate of Haj Mahdi Koze Kanani, one of the constitutional activists in Tabriz, constructed by Haj Vali, a Tabriz architect of the Qajar architectural style in two floors with interior and exterior parts of stone, brick and adobe in 1247 SH.
Bibi Hakime Mausoleum
Bibi Hakime, peace be upon her, mausoleum, the burial place of the seventh Shia Imam’s daughter, Imam Musa al-kadhim (peace be upon him) and the sister of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) is the most famous Imamzadeh in the south of Iran which is located in the depth of impassable southern Zagros mountains.
Khaju Bridge
Today’s Khaju Bridge was made on the ruins of the past from the late Timurid era by Safavid Shah Abbas II in 1060. This bridge is more famous than any other bridges of the river because of its architecture and tiles decoration. The Khaju Bridge was one of the most beautiful bridges in the world in the Safavid era largely used as a dam. A building constructed between each of the two eastern and western sides of the bridge including several rooms decorated with paintings.
Boujerdies’ House
Borujerdies’ historical house is one of the aristocratic houses in Qajar period, built by a famous merchant of Kashan whose name was Haj Seyed Hassan Natanzi. This building generally consists of two outer and inner parts without garden. Contrary to the conventional beliefs, this house didn’t belong to the people of Borujerd but because of the trade between Natanz merchants who were originally from Kashan with Borujerd merchants, Kashan people called it Boroujerdi.
Avicenna Mausoleum
Avicenna mausoleum is the memorial monument of him as a famous Iranian philosopher, scientist and physician. The current mausoleum of Avicenna is located in Abu Saeed Dakhok house, his close friend, and Abu Saeed was also buried beside the Avicenna. The original building of this mausoleum was built in Qajar era and the new mausoleum was rebuilt by Iran National Heritage Association according to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s order and opened in 1333 AH.
Alamut Castle
Alamut castle, one of the unique historical castles in Iran, is located in the northwest of Qazvin province on the top of rock with 200 m height upper than the surrounding lands. This castle consists of two upper and lower castles built as a great building and the quadruplet walls of it constructed by following the shape and conditions of the rocks so that the walls width are especially various in different parts.
Arak Bazaar
Arak bazaar, an enclosed complex in an old area and in the center of Arak, was built by Mohamad Yousef Khan Gorji Sepahdari in the early Qajar era in the Fathali Shah reign in 1228 HA. This bazaar had always been one of the economic and trade center of Carpet the main crops of this city, in the center of Iran, Sarouq Carpet, and the west of country. Arak bazaar has many stores for buy and sell, Timche, an enclosed place with a few shops, mosque, bath, cistern, passages, inns and historical school of Sepahdari.
Aghazade Mansion
Aghazade mansion, the most beautiful historical house of Abarkooh, belongs to Seyed Hasan Abarquei who was one of the rich people in Qajar era. This house is located in the old context of the city and is very considerable due to its architecture and using the elements of Iranian traditional architecture. This building has been constructed by the materials such as adobe, clay and brick in the form of a central yard and three sides for using in different seasons of the year.
Vank Cathedral
Vank cathedral or Amena Pergic, the largest and most beautiful cathedral in Isfahan’s Julfa, one of the historical Armenian cathedrals, was established in the Shah Abbas II era in the lands of Zereshk garden in 1605; it was extended continuously during 50 years and finally reached to the current form.
Meymand Village
Meymand is a rocky and dugout village and one of the primary habitats of man in Iran with approximately 2 – 3 thousand years history. The close relationship between the life and the surrounding nature is the particular values of this historical village in such a way that it continues, even currently and in spite of the new technology developments, to be an original site and keeps its original appearance without any tangible manipulating the nature.
Ziarat Village
Ziarat tourism village with the height of 1000 meters above the sea level, on the slope of a mountain, is located in the Khaserood River valley between two mountainous and forested hillsides. This village with pleasant climate is considered as a summer region. The climate of this region is cool in summer and cold in winter.
Abyaneh Village
Abyaneh village is one of the most specific villages of Iran with a good sight and climate, an appropriate natural situation where all the houses has been constructed on the hillside at the north of the Barzrood River with a beautiful and pleasant architecture. The form of village houses are limaceous, adobe, brick and stone related to Sassanid, Seljuk, Safavid and Qajar eras and there is no dead end alley in this village. The old houses of village have been built with the coverage of red soil, which are highly protected against the rain, on the hillside.
Kandovan Village
Kandovan is an astonishing village located on the mountain flank of Sultan Daghi, Sabalan Mountain, located in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Kandovan Village is famous for its wonderful rocky architecture which is the result of volcanic activities and hand-carved structures. The inhabitants, basically, carved every room of the cliff houses like kitchens, halls, and even pens out of stone to make windows for the rooms and later, to decorate them with colorful glasses.
Makhunik Village
Makhunik village is one of the seven amazing world’s villages by its remarkable architecture being known to LILIPUT land because of the short residents in there. This village antiquity estimated about 300 years based on discovering historical documents and petroglyph from this area. Also, on the basis of what the village residents say, the Safavid kings had an important role in the history of this village.
Masuleh Village
A very beautiful city in the north of Iran, with a unique architecture, roof of one house becomes the above’s front yard, with fresh air and an excellent view of forest
Religious Sights
Isfahan Jame Mosque
Known as one of the most important and among the earliest religious buildings in Iran, Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan is a magnificent and exquisite, artistically and technically significant monument, which embraces several phases of Islamic architectural development. The mosque is one of the largest and the most mysterious mosques in the Muslim world in which the main building was developed in early Islamic period, on the basis of a late Sassanid monument.
Fatima Masoumeh Holy Shrine
Qom is resting place of the 7th Imam of Shia, Imam Mousa Kadhem’s (PBUH) daughter, Hazrat Fatima Masoumeh (A.S). This magnificent building is located in the center of the city and the history of the building back to the third century AH.
Imam Reza’s Holy Shrine
Imam Reza’s (A.S) holy shrine is the biggest, most important and prominent religious center of Iran that consists of the most features of Persian-Islamic architecture that many pilgrims from Iran and all around the world go to this place every year.
Shah Cheragh Shrine
Shah Cheragh is a famous holy shrine of Imam Mousa Kadhem’s (7th Shia Imam) son, Mir Seyed Ahmad, who is the brother of Imam Reza (peace be upon him), many Shias go to Shiraz for pilgrimage this place and it is one of the most significant sights of this city. The first building of Shah Cheragh holy shrine antiquity dated back to Azdodole Deilami who was one of the Ale Boye kings and the new buildings repaired and linked to the main courtyard was established in Fars Atabakan, Shah Ismaeil Safavi and Nader Shah Afshar periods.
Abdol Azim Shrine
Firstly, the Abdol Azim holy shrine like all the other major shrines was just the central building contain the central part, but the other buildings constructed and linked to the main building during the years to finally reached to current form consisted of shrines, porch, mosque, courtyard and other relevant places. This holy shrine beside two other monuments that are related to Imamzadeh Hamzeh (peace be upon him) and Imamzadeh Taher (peace be upon him) is one of the famous Iranian Shia shrines its antiquity dates back to the Ilkhanid, Safavid and Qajar era.
Agha Bozorg Mosque and School
Agha Bozorg Mosque and School building is one of the most magnificent and beautiful mosques of Qajar era in Iran established by Haj Mohammad Taqi Khanban invest for prayer and discussion of his son-in-law, Mullah Mahdi Naraqi II known as Agha Bozorg, during 1250 to 1260 AH.
Imamzade Saleh Shrine
The monument of Hazrat Imam Mousa Kadhem’s son, Imamzade Saleh (peace be upon him), is located in the north of Tehran. The main building of this shrine is belonged to 7th and 8th centuries AH which consists of a square building with 50 square meters area that its architecture is the same as the Ilkhanid period. This building was repaired in Qajar dynasty and some parts added to it. Tiling and the interior painting of holy shrine is the same as the Qajar method.
Chak Chak Shrine
Chak Chak is one of the most important shrines of the Zoroastrians in the mountain enjoyed a special reputation and many Zoroastrians come and pray in this place from 24 June for four days every year. Mehregan festival is held at this place every year. According to legends, this place has been the heaven of the daughter of Yazdgerd, a Sassanid king, Nik Bano, from the Muslims.
Bahram Fire Temple
Bahram fire temple or Vararam fire temple in Yazd is one of the premises of the Zoroastrians, consisted of buildings and tree-lined garden that has been made in recent centuries. This building construction dated back to Pahlavi I era its architecture derived from the Achaemenid art.
Tarikhane
Tarikhane, means God’s house, the house of God, is one of Damghan’s heritages, before the domination of Arabs in Iran, which initially was a fire temple and then turned into a mosqueover the centuries and has been repeatedly repaired.
Amir Chakhmagh Complex
Amir Chakhmaq is one of the most significant historical complexes in Yazd which is located in the middle of the old architectural context and it is one of the important strategic zones of Yazd. This valuable complex which is the point of main streets includes Mosque, Tekye, a place to hold the religious mourning, Sati Fatemeh mausoleum, Haji Ghanbar bazaar, Sati Fatemeh cistern, Palm and cistern of Amir Chakhmaq.
Masjed-E-Jame of Saveh , Saveh Jame Mosque
Masjed-E-Jame of Saveh is one of the first mosques built in Iran and is considered as one of the valuable works of art, architecture, painting, tiling and stucco, which are all made of mud brick. This building has undergone many changes during different historical periods that includes three historical periods of Sassanid, early Islamic and Safavid eras. Now, the mosque rectangular-square courtyard consists of a courtyard and dome (the oldest parts of the mosque) related to the fourth and fifth centuries on the south side, a tall brick minaret in the northeast corner and out of the mosque with brick decorations with no color and enamels which was in pairs but one of them remained, with stairs decorated with diverse and outstanding designs in the sixth century, some brick bedchambers from the sixth century AH and Seljuks era, two porches (western porches) in the eighth century and their restoration is related to the Qajar period. This mosque is one of the most valuable and finest Islamic architecture and one of the prominant mosques in Iran and Asia.
Masjed-E-Jame of Varamin, Varamin Jame Mosque
Masjed-e Jame of Varamin building was built by the attempt of Sultan Mohammad Khodabandeh, Oljato, one of the most famous Mugol rulers in the Illkhani era.
Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque
Nasir-al-Mulk Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in the Goud-E-Araban district close to the famous Shah Cheragh Mosque in Shiraz. Mirza Hasan Ali, also known as Nasir-al-Mulk, was one of the Qajar dynasty’s grandee who ordered the construction of this building.
Hindu’s Temple
This temple is built in 1310 SH by Indian merchants of Shikarpur city in the west of India, for the Hindus who lived in Bandar Abbas and were busy with commerce during Mohammad Hasan Khan Sa’ad al-Malek reign since 1300 to 1344 SH.
Vank Cathedral
Vank cathedral or Amena Pergic, the largest and most beautiful cathedral in Isfahan’s Julfa, one of the historical Armenian cathedrals, was established in the Shah Abbas II era in the lands of Zereshk garden in 1605; it was extended continuously during 50 years and finally reached to the current form. The plan of the cathedral is rectangular and its direction is eastern-western. The interior of cathedral presents a sample of Armenian architecture and its exterior facade has been designed by use of Iranian architecture and it is a professional combination of two architectural styles.
Bibi Hakime Mausoleum
Bibi Hakime, peace be upon her, mausoleum, the burial place of the seventh Shia Imam’s daughter, Imam Musa al-kadhim (peace be upon him) and the sister of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) is the most famous Imamzadeh in the south of Iran which is located in the depth of impassable southern Zagros mountains.
Qadamgah,
Qadamgah, Imam Ali Ibn Musa Reza’s (A.S.) feet print on a stone, 23 kilometers northeast of Neyshabur, is a regular spot on the itinerary of pilgrims and travelers visiting the holy city of Mashhad. According to the accounts of the journey, Imam Reza (A.S.) stopped at a spring, besides which he performed the prayer. After the prayer, the impression of his feet miraculously appeared on the stone where he stood.
Jamkaran Mosque
This mosque has religious significance as the site where a local leader reportedly met the 12th Shia Imam. Construction is believed to have started in the mid-1730s, and the mosque has expanded over the years.
And a huge number of other mosques, churches, fire temples, etc.
Natural Sights
Atashgah Waterfall
Atashgah Waterfall is one of the natural attractions of Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari Province located in 40km of Lordegan city. This roaring waterfall which is also known as Miniature Waterfall because of its unique landscape, is one of the most popular attractions in the west of Bakhtiari Iran.
Arasbaran Forest
Arasbaran Forest includes a vast green area extended from Ahar City to Aras River. Having lots of rich environmental and natural sources, this forests have been inscribed on UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, as one of the biosphere reserves of Iran.
Salmash
Shalmash in one of the most important and roaring waterfalls in West Azerbaijan Province which is located in Sardasht city. It experiences the highest level of water during the spring and it finally falls into a green and beautiful valley.
Khor Waterfall
Khor Waterfall is one of the highest waterfalls close to Tehran. It is located along the rout of Karaj to Chalus and in 17km of this road. The height is approximately 50meters. In addition, there exists a village with the same name and 3400meters altitude, in the western hillside of Gandom Chal Pick.
Heyran Region
Heyran is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Iran, due to the beautiful and accessible scenery. Because of its desirable microclimate at summertime, many villas have been built in the neighborhood. The main road is crowded on the weekends. The Heyran Gondola lift is above the villages, at a higher altitude in the Alborz.
Neor Lake
Neor Lake is a natural lake located in the border line of two provinces of Gilan and Ardabil. It has provided a suitable environment for living different kinds of fishes because of the fresh water, rainfall and good weather; so that, it is an attractive destination for tourists especially in warm seasons.
3000 Forest
3000 forest is one of the most beautiful and eye catching natural regions of Iran. 3000 Valley is located on the west side of Alamkouh peak with picturesque landscapes, Meadows, high forests and plains and is one of the beautiful and important landscapes of Tourism due to have pleasant weather, rivers, waterfalls and water spring. Some traces of human life in the far past years remain in this valley. Also, 2000 is a tourist region in the north of Iran with moderate mountainous climate with pleasant summer and partly cold winter.
Bostanak Canyon
Bostanak Canyon protected area is a place largely covered with forests, water and mountains located in the watershed Davarzan’s dam. Bostanak canyon is a lush and beautiful valley, a part of the central Zagros Mountains in the east leads to Dena Mountain and known as Behehsht–E-Gomshode, the Lost Paradise, due to its beautiful and eye-catching natural area.
Yasuj Waterfall
Yasuj beautiful and famous waterfall that originates from water sources in Zagros Mountains is the main tourist attraction of this city. Its special position, located in the nature capital of Iran, pleasant weather, beautiful landscape, streams of water in the spiral path, orchards, lush meadows full of colorful flowers is stunning areas of the spring, summer and fall in Yasuj.
Chahkooh Canyon
The amazing Chahkooh canyon is a view of eroded rocks with the depth of 100 meters that is one of the most important tourist attractions of the island in the middle of the monolithic Stone Mountain cut crosswise. The valley has four straits from four sides, which have been wide at first and their width gradually reduced insofar as the walls distance may be about half of a meter in some parts.
Shevi Waterfall
Shevi waterfall or “Tele Zang” is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iran and the Middle East which is located in the Zagros Mountains in the northern city of Dezful with a short distance from Lorestan province, in the south of Dorud and among the Sar Tang Shevi mountains. Shevi waterfall of Dezful is one of the exquisite scenery and natural attractions of Iran that springs out of a cave and descents from the high mountain creating a unique natural perspective.
Nilufar Lake
Nilufar Lake, Sarab-E-Nilufar, is located on the hillside of Komajar at the height of 25 meters above the sea level. The lake is small with appropriate location for the rare and unique herbal types and lilies which is one of the beautiful flowers that is privileged among the other flowers due to its sanctity.
Noosh Abad Underground City
Noosh Abad underground city known as “Ouei” and the largest underground city of the world, with human made architecture constructed on three floors with the military and defense applications. The dating of this great complex backed to Sasanian and early Islamic eras and it was used in Seljuk and Safavid and even in Qajar era
Hoz-E-Sultan Lake
Hoz-E-Sultan Lake was formed as the result of Tehran-Qom road construction in 1883. This lake is located in the northeast of Qom and also known as Saveh-ye-Qom Lake and Shahi Lake.
Alborz Mountain Range
Alborz Mountain Range is located in the north of that beside the specific various and spectacular views is tourist sites of Qom province in different seasons and times. There is a levee inside the lake to prevent cars from sinking in the swamp and to utilize the salt marsh.
Qeshm Geo-Park
Geopark is a vast zone its borders are clearly marked and some remarkable geological phenomena are located in its limited area. Qeshm Geo-Park is a longitudinal Range which leads to north beach from the north and South beach from the south, Tabl and Salakh villages from the east, Gori and Kani villages from the west. This geological area has some worthwhile geological phenomena with various forms due to being located in the beautiful seashore of the Persian Gulf and Hara sea forest. Qeshm Geo-Park has a complex of international valuable Geo sites, a place with rare and valuable geological phenomena, such as stars valley, Chahkouh valley, Salt dome, Statues valley, salty valley, Dulab, Kukura Mountain, the roof of Qeshm and etc., which erosion is the most important cause of their creation.
Soubatan
The Soubatan summer region is one of the prettiest regions of Iran that enjoys a natural and pleasant climate. Gilan is the most humid province of Iran, based on the climatic conditions and its temperature is rarely less than one degree above zero, but some lumps of snow are also visible on the Soubatan heights, 1900 to 2500 meters above the sea level, during the summer.
Urmia Lake
Urmia Lake is the biggest salt water lake of Iran is located between the eastern Azerbaijan province and the western Azerbaijan province. These lake water resources are supplied from 21 permanent rivers, 7 seasonal rivers and 39 watercourses, the lake’s interior springs, direct snow and rain. This lake has been constituted of two aqueous and arid environment, national park, with varied islands which is one of the most significant natural habitats, plants and animals in Iran.
Shadegan lagoon
Shadegan lagoon is located in the southwest of Iran, south of Shadegan city and in the south of Khuzestan plain. This lagoon had also been called Khovr-e Dowraq, Dowraq al-Foras, Falahieh and Estelahieh which renamed to Shadegan.
Jarahi River
Jarahi River as the biggest lagoon water supplier and after that Bahre Stream radiating the Karoon River, supplies the water of this lagoon. The depth of the lagoon is not so much and it is just some meters. Shadegan lagoon is a vast ecological system of sweet and salty wetlands, and also a tidal bay of Khor-e Musa and its islands.
Alisadr Cave
Alisadr cave, the only lagoon cave in Iran, is one of the world’s largest and longest water caves related to the Jurassic period, the Second geological period, in the Zagros Mountains located at the height of 1980 meters above the sea level. The entrance parts of this interesting cave were used by people in Safavid era. Alisadr cave identified by a group of Hamedan mountain climbers in 1341-42 and the entrance of the cave has been widened 50 cm in 1352. Public use of this cave began in 1354.
Anzali Lagoon
You might have seen images of water lilies and their big green leaves floating on water; leaves on which frogs sit and relax and through which the crimson of the lilies show off. You can see these dreamlike scenes up close in Anzali Lagoon. The luminous leaves of the Lagoon’s lilies are spread like a green carpet in front of visitors. With each row and movement of the boat, another beautiful scenery unveils itself. Further away, a flock of mallards are flying across. The Lagoon’s sky is filled with migrating birds that choose Anzali Lagoon as their temporary resting place on their winter journey. Of the 145 species of migrating birds identified in Iran, 77 species find Anzali Lagoon suitable for their sojourn because this habitat provides them with a feast of rich sources of aquatic plants and animals.
Sahoolan Cave
The Sahoolan cave is the second water cave of Iran after Alisadr cave. This cave dating back to the end of the Cretaceous period is related to about 70 million years ago based on the geological activity and it was a residence and shelter for the human during the second and first millennium BC.
Zarivar Lake
Zarivar Lake, Zarivar Lagoon in the height of 1285 meters above the sea level is one of the most unique freshwater lakes in the world that has all the conditions of an international lagoon. No river comes in this lagoon and its water supplying from the water springs at the bottom of the lake and melting snow of the surrounding mountains.
The Martian Mountain Range
Martian or miniature range of mountain evokes the scenery of the Moon Mountains because of their unusual shape and it is one of most beautiful ecotourism poles of Iran, as one of the strangest natural phenomena. These unique phenomena are the continuity of the Zagros Mountains, which finally arrive in Pakistan and they are in red, gray and white colors and its height varies from 5 to 100 m in comparison to the surrounding plains.
Damavand Mountain
Damavand Mountain is the highest mountain of Iran and Middle East; it is the highest volcanic peak of Asia and the 19th tallest peak of the world. The mountain is located in north of Iran at the central part of the Alborz Mountain range located on the south of the Caspian Sea. One can see the mountain from Tehran, Varamin, Qom and the Caspian Sea beach, given the weather is not foggy or polluted. Damavand is the symbol of stability in the Iranian culture and enjoys a good reputation in Persian literature and mythology.
Abr, Cloud, Forest
Shahroud Abr forest is one of the most beautiful natural landscapes, the oldest and most beautiful part of Hyrcanian forest which is the remnants of the geological 3rd period. This forest is located in the continuation of lush forests in the north of Iran, the border of Semnan and Golestan provinces, two semi-desert and forest ecosystems. Specific geographical location of the region that is located beside the areas upper and lower areas has resulted to an ocean of clouds in this region and it is consequently named Abr, clouds, Forest since the forest covered with a huge cover of clouds; a rare phenomenon in the world.
Cypress of Abarkooh
Cypress of Abarkooh, in Yazd desert, is popular as a symbol of life and beauty and it is actually one of the wonders in the whole world. “Four thousand five hundred years old cypress”, “Iran’s oldest living organism”, “The second oldest and living organism in the world”, are some titles of Abarkooh tree which is known as Parsik.
Chalus Road
Karaj – Chalus road, the fourth beautiful road in the world, with the official name of 59, is one of the most popular roads to north of Iran along which there are the most unique natural, historical and tourism landscapes.
Gahar Lake
Gahar Lake, one of the most beautiful highland lakes of Iran, is located among Oshtorankuh protected zone at the height of 2400 meters above the sea level. Gahar includes upper Gahar, the small one, and lower Gahar, the big one, lakes. This natural lake has been created of melted snow of Oshtorankuh and accumulation of water behind the dam or sealing that is comprised of landslides so that abundant entrance water in this lake is the cause of its overflowing into the down lake or the main Gahar.
Badab Soort
Badab Soort, are the rare stairway springs in Iran and the world that includes several springs with completely different water in terms of color, smell, taste and the volume. It has been inscribed as the second salt water spring in the world after Pamukkale spring in Turkey. Badab Soort springs consist of two springs; one with an upper volume of water, very salty and not being frozen in winter due to its salinity which has a pool with a diameter of 15 meters with high depth and it is mainly used for swimming in summer.
Jinn chimney
Jinn Chimney, Dodkesh Jen, is a natural phenomenon that during the erosion, some long columns like minarets with difference in thickness and height are built from sediments and rocks, and usually a large rock or a part of the rough layer has been remain at the top part of it. These natural structures remain in interesting shapes like a chimney and called Jinn chimney or elf throne. The reason of naming this phenomena probably returns to the human disability in the past that related some phenomena to Jinn and elf and the region’s natives entitled Jinn Chimney to this heterogeneous erosion phenomena. This natural phenomena named Hoodoo in geology and is one of the tourism attractions in all around the world. Hoodoos are more visible in America (Bryce Canyon region). These landscapes are visible in the west side of Mississippi River and the east of the Rocky Mountains of America and Canada, Turkey, Serbia and Taiwan.
These are just a bunch of examples of Iran’s beauty; to see the rest book your trip now.
