Iran Natural Attractions Part 3
Iran Desert
FORESTS, VALLEYS, PLAINS AND DESERTS
Iran is the Middle East's tourist hub due o its varying natural, cultural and historical beauties and attractions. One of the reasons tourists choose Iran as their resort is the country's very beautiful natural landscapes, especially its forests, valleys, plains and deserts. Among major forests, valleys, plains and deserts of the country reference should be made to Bazoft Forest Zone, Shahr-e-Kord, Chaloos Forests, Noshahr, Ardakan Desert (Siyah Kooh), Abar Kooh Desert, Herat and Merosat, Behesht Abad, Bahadoran, Saqand, Haji Abad and Zarrin Abad Deserts, Kashaf Rood Valley, Mashad and Loot Plain, Zahedan.
BAZOFT FOREST ZONE, SHAHR-E-KORD
This zone covers an area of 53,000 hectares and is 180 km away and to the west of Shahr-e-Kord. From north it reaches the borders of Lurestan, from south to Ardal, from east to Shahr-e-Kord and from the west to borders of Khuzestan province. The main forest area of this region includes Chahak, Talkhehdan, Badam Shirindan,Voleska, Chekooz and Cham Jendar.
CHALOOS FORESTS, NOSHAHR
This area is close to the sea, with high plains, suitable regional conditions, verdant, with heights and valleys and dense forests, lakes , elevated waterfalls. Besides it being in the vicinity of Alam Kooh. All speak of it being unequal to its kind in Iran and even the world. It is a place worth visiting.
DESERT ATTRACTIONS, YAZD PROVINCE
Amongst the natural features pertaining to tourism in Iran, are desert characteristics. Taking a stroll is these vast spaces, watching the wonders of the moving sands, the burning and dry salt marshes, historical monuments, brick colored buildings of simple and harsh styles, shadows of scattered villages, as well as the old ancient inns and caravansaries are charming and worth visiting for every tourist. Two routes can be considered in the desert region of Yazd. One is the Yazd - Bafq route, running along the ancient Fahraj Mosque on the fringes of the desert, continuing till the limits of Bafq. En route are the tamarisk forests, and the beautiful Ahan Shahr Park, extending over 20 hectares which appears at the end of this route. The other route is of Yazd - Khanaraq - Bayazeh and continues till Khoor and Biyabanek. Along which are dome-shaped sandy hills, covered by desert bushes. All through the route there are ancient and beautiful inns with arched windows and unique architecture. Out of which worth mentioning is the military castle of Bayazeh which is placed beside the beautiful gardens of Khoor Biabanak village. Another site to visit is the ancient olive tree which is over a thousand years old. The desert areas of Yazd province can be divided into the following:
ARDAKAN DESERT (SIYAH KOOH)
It lies between the two mountains of Hoosh at an elevation of 1,939 m. to the south, and Siyah Kooh at a height of 2,050 m. to the north.
ABAR KOOH DESERT
This is a circular area resting between two mountains which is at close proximity to Taqestan desert. Daranjir Desert area, extending over 1,500 square kilometers, to the east of Yazd.
OTHER DESERT: HERAT AND MEROSAT
They are approximately 500 square kilometers and almost humid.
BEHESHT ABAD:
That's between Anar and Rafsanjan, in a north western to southeastern direction.
BAHADORAN:
It is in southeast of Mehreez and from a north western to a south eastern direction. Among other deserts one should name Saqand, Haji Abad and Zarrin Abad Deserts.
FORESTS, SISTAN VA BALUCHESTAN
The forest areas of Sistan Va Baluchestan province are scanty and not at all dense like the forests of the north and west of Iran. The forests of this vicinity are scattered around the elevated areas, springs and along the river banks. Near Konarak in the Chabahar region are traces of forests with tamarisk and the Indian fig trees. These are sparse and on the decrease due to environmental conditions and soil erosion. But in the borderline area in the vicinity of the Taftan and Panj Angosht Mountain Ranges the scene changes because of climatic conditions. Various species of trees can be found here such as the lote tree, wild almonds, pistachio, Indian fig, Indian tamarind, jasmine, oleander and so on. These forests extend over an area of 1.5 million hectares throughout the province and are the habitat of different wildlife.
KASHAF ROOD VALLEY, MASHAD
The Kashaf Rood River is 240 km. in length and originates from mountain ranges of Hezar Masjed and Binalood, which flows through this valley. Hillocks about 20 km. southeast of Quchan separates this valley from the Atrak Valley. About 900 villages surround this valley. During autumn the nomads residing here take full advantage of their surroundings. Public spots are plentiful in this valley.
LOOT PLAIN, ZAHEDAN
The plain of Loot is the largest hollow or pit in the plateau of Iran and a part of which is located between Sistan Va Baluchestan. This plain is one of the hottest and driest in the world with a minimum trace of water. To the west of this plain, is another area of wilderness called Namakzar, which is impenetrable in the rainy seasons. The eastern half of the plain is covered by moving sands, but a part of its southern sector is penetrable. Due to the hot sun and strong winds, heavy masses of sand move to the south and the southeast, forming a chain of sandy hillocks.
PLAINS, MAZANDARAN
In Mazandaran province, if the elevations below 100 m. be considered as those limited to the plains, two particular areas come into focus. The first is the narrow strip of Ramsar - Alamdeh and Galugah - Kord Kooy. These being near the forest heights and have a considerably steep gradient towards a limited flat region. The vast plains of the Amol - Babol and Sary - Behshahr segment, which have been formed at the mouths of Haraz, Babol, Tajan and Neka Rivers, can be accounted as the second sector. Climatically, the plains of Mazandaran are moderately warm and the temperature rise is from west to east, thus bringing about a relative decrease in rainfall in the same direction in the region. These plains encompass various important cities and also rural areas, which bear an influence on the economic and industrial factors. Forest landscapes, the sea, citrus orchards, tea gardens, and even the natural cuts and separations in the forest heights bring forth a wonderful and matchless scene.--irna
Plains and Deserts INT 870129-3
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