Mazandaran – iTourismA

Mount Damavand

2020/02/07/0 Comments/in Amol, Mazandaran, Natural Attractions /by Iran Tourism

Mount Damavand is located around 60 kilometers northeast of the city in the eastern side of the Lar National Park where it towers above the surrounding area. It is located in southern part of Caspian Sea. Mount Damavand has an elevation of 5670 meters and its summit shows a small volcano crater. It is the highest point in the Middle East and the highest volcano in Asia. Mount Damavand is described as being a strato-volcano meaning that it is built up from layers of volcanic rock. It stands in an area which has been volcanically active and it rises from the southern rim of a 9 km wide caldera which is especially a large crater formed, when a volcano collapses into itself. There are certainly no historical records of Damavand erupting and scientific evidence shows that its last eruption occurred in 5300 BC. There could be a temptation to describe it as a dormant volcano, but the summit of Mount Damavand does emit spurts of hot sulfurous gases known as fumaroles and at lower levels, hot springs emerge indicating volcanic activity fairly close to the surface.

Mount Damavand is the highest volcanic peak in the Middle East which is also a national heritage site and national symbol of resistance and has a significant place in Persian mythology. In the topographic map of Iran, the location of Mount Damavand is marked as Central Alborz, an area known for some other prominent peaks such as Alam-Kuh and Tochal. There are more than 16 routes for climbing Mount Damavand the most popular being the southern route. Iranian Mountain Federation Camp in Polour village near Damavand usually serves as the first base for the mountaineers. There are shelters in all of the major routes including Bargah Sevom Camp on the southern route, Takht-e Fereydoun on the northeastern route and Sīmorgh shelter on the western route which is adored by mountaineers for its exquisite sunset view. There are several hot water springs and fumaroles from which hot sulfur emits forth, reminding the people that this beast of a mountain has a heart of fire beneath its snowy facade. In the Iranian myth of origin, Damavand is cited as the kingdom of Keyumars, the first human being and lawgiver. Jamshid, the mightiest king of Iran’s mythical history flew from the zenith of Damavand in a chariot driven by the subdued demons. Zahhak, the most atrocious villain in Iranian legends was nailed to a wall in Damavand by the great hero Fereydun. Arash, the tragic hero, sacrificed his life in throwing an arrow from the peak of Damavand to expand the territory of Iranian Empire.

Persian Pottery

2019/10/04/1 Comment/in Architrcture , Art and Handicraft, Gilan, Lorestan, Mazandaran /by Iran Tourism

Persian Pottery

Iranian pottery production presents a continuous history from the beginning of Iranian history until the present day. In Iran pottery manufacture has a long and brilliant history. Due to the special geographical position of the country, being at the crossroads of ancient civilizations and on important caravan routes, almost every part of Iran was, at times, involved in pottery making. Yet, recent excavations and archaeological research revealed that there were four major pottery-manufacturing areas in the Iranian plateau. These included the western part of the country, namely the area west of the Zagros Mountains (Lorestan), and the area south of the Caspian Sea (Gilan and Mazandaran provinces).

One of the earliest known and excavated prehistoric sites that produced pottery is Ganj Darreh Tappeh in the Kermanshah region. Another great discovery was made south of the Caspian Sea in a cave, in the so-called Kamarband, (Belt cave) near present day Behshahr.

With the invention and the introduction of the potter’s wheel, it became possible to produce better quality and symmetrically-shaped vessels; the number of pottery types made was greatly increased as well. The decoration of these objects was made with much greater care and artistic skill, and the designs used were greatly enriched and carefully selected.

In general the history of Iranian-Islamic pottery can be divided into three main periods Post-Sassanian or Early Islamic Period; Middle Islamic Period; Later Islamic Period.

In these three periods, which lasted for more than a thousand years, numerous pottery centers were established, which produced innumerable types of wares.

Currently, pottery art is popular in traditional and industrial ways in Iran, and its main centers are: Laljin, Hamedan, Meybod, Yazd, Kalporgan, Minab, Gilan, Gonabad, Shahreza and etc.

Laljin

Laljin is known as the Middle East pottery and ceramic works. 80 percent of the population of the city of Laljin is engaged in pottery and ceramic works.

Natural Attractions In Iran

2019/05/01/0 Comments/in Amol, Hamadan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Isfahan, Isfahan, Mazandaran, Natural Attractions, Qeshm Island, Sari /by Iran Tourism

For those who crave to visit Iran whose historical monuments are not satisfactory enough, the numerous awe-inspiring landscapes surrounding Iran ranging from mountains to deserts, to forests and caves offer travelers a fantastic and memorable experience. In the following, you will find a glimpse over the most wonderful ones.

Alisadr Cave:

Ali Sadr Cave originally called Ali Saadr (meaning cold) is the world’s largest water cave which attracts thousands of visitors every year. It is located in Ali Sadr Kabudarahang County about 100 kilometers north of Hamadan, western Iran.

Chahkooh Canyon:

In the Northwestern part of Qeshm Island, Chahkooh Canyon (Mountain of Wells) is located 15km away from Tabl Village. The Chahkooh Canyon is known as The Great Canyon of The Middle-East and is inscribed as a UNESCO Global Geopark site. This Geosite is an exceptional example of erosion through rainstorm water.

Mount Damavand:

Mount Damavand is known as the highest mountain in Iran and the highest volcano in the Middle East. It is located in the central part of the Alborz mountain range (central Alborz), and in the south of the Caspian Sea, in the Larijan district of Amol.

Varzaneh Desert:

Varzaneh Desert is one of the beauty deserts of the eastern part of Isfahan and the central part of Iran. At the heart of this desert, sandy hills make a wonderful view that wind beautifully crafted them in various shapes, including longitudinal hills, crests and sandy pyramids.

Hormuz Island:

Hormuz, mostly barren, hilly island of Iran on the Strait of Hormuz, between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, 8 km off the coast. The population may decline by half in summer through migration. Hormuz village is the only permanent settlement. Resources include red ochre for export.

Badab Soort Springs:

Badab Soort has become the world’s second largest Spring Saline water. Badab Soort’s springs are two distinct mineral springs with different natural characteristics, located at 1,840 metres above sea level. The first spring contains very salty water that gathers in a small natural pool. Its water is considered to have medicinal properties, especially as a cure for rheumatism and some types of skin diseases and skin conditions. The second spring has a sour taste and is predominately orange mainly due to the large iron oxide sediments at its outlet.