Iran Press/ Iran news: The Alborz or Elborz Mountain range is a narrow range that curves all along the southern shore of the Caspian Sea from the Azerbaijan province of Iran in North West to the
Aladak Mountains in the northeast measure about 600 mi or 970 km long.
This range forms a climatic barrier between the Caspian and the Central part of the Iranian Plateau which results in receiving a good deal of snow and rain in the fertile region of the northern side; in stark contrast, the southern side has very little vegetation and is characterized by barren brown slopes and deserts.
Tehran is located on the southern side of the Alborz range
The word Alborz is derived from Hera Barziti, which is the name of a legendary mountain in Avesta consisting of the word “Barziti” meaning tall, which is still used in Persian today and the prefix “hera” has Indo-European roots and means care and guard.
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Geographical feature
Originally, the Alborz Mountains as well as their neighboring range of the east, the Kopet Dag, are volcanic and retain the verticality typical of this origin and rise almost as a wall from the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. This range is among the highest in the continent and includes Iran’s highest peak, Damavand (18,934 ft or 5,671 m). Alburz is always important in Persian mythology as a remote base of mythical heroes and gods.
The Elburz range forms a climatic barrier between the Caspian and the Central Iranian Plateau. The northern side receives a good deal of snow and rain and is blanketed by lush forests and a fertile coastal plain. The southern side, in stark contrast, has few trees and is characterized by barren brown slopes and desert below.
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Damavand
Mount Damavand is one of the most iconic places in Iran. That is not just for the challenge of climbing Damavand. Damavand peak has had a notable role in Iranian mythology and literature. It is a symbol of resistance and strength in Iranian folk stories. It is regarded as an epic mountain in Shahnameh, the popular Iranian book of poems. Every Iranian anywhere in the world can tell you exciting stories about Zahaak, the devil king, imprisoned in the Damavand peak for thousands of years. It is the highest volcanic mountain in the middle east mount (5671M).
Flora and fauna of Alborz
The southern slopes of the Alborz Mountains are usually semiarid or arid, but the northern slopes of the range are usually humid and very fertile, especially in Gilan province located in the western parts of the Central Alborz. The higher elevations of the southern part such as Damavand have very few trees including the Juniper which is the most common tree in the highest parts, other common plants of the region are pistachio, maple, and almond. in the fertile area of the northern slopes, the Caspian Hyrcanian forests' lush eco-region is the most important phenomenon. The natural plants in this region grow in distinct zones, The wild cypress as well as the olive trees grow in the western valleys of the Central Alborz near the Sefidrud river.
Alborz beautiful nature
The most important animals and birds of Alborz are bezoar ibex, Blandford’s fox, Rappel’s fox, red fox, Persian fallow deer, wild boar, Syrian brown bear, Persian leopard, Indian wolf, buzzard, goose, woodpecker, griffon vulture, and eagle. The extinct Caspian Tiger lived around the Caspian Sea through Central Asia to northern Afghanistan and Xinjiang in western China.
Alborz range hosts great winter sports facilities
Tourist attractions
Due to the great snow, there are several ski resorts in different parts of the central range of Alborz. Some of them such as Dizin, Shemshak, Tochal, Abali, and Darbandsar are among the best in the whole world.
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