Asbads (windmill) of Iran are among the oldest in the world, located in the village of Nashtifan in northeastern Iran.

Iran Press/Iran news: Nashtifan is an ancient site located in Khaf County, which is part of the northeastern Iranian province of Khorasan Razavi.

In olden days, the village was known as ‘Nish Toofan’, which may be translated to mean ‘storm’s sting’, and is an indication of the kind of environment it was in, according to Iran Press.

Due to the strong winds that blow across the area, windmills were built near the town to harness this source of energy. Amazingly, there are still a number of windmills that were built during ancient times, and are still functioning today. 

Made from clay, straw, and wood, the Asbads stand up to 65 feet in height with grinding stones in a room below for pressing grain into flour. And while there are about thirty similar mills around the area, in 2002 the windmills of Nashtifan were registered as a national heritage site by Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organization, unique in that they are one of the few still operational.

These windmills like Shushtar’s historical hydraulic system and so many others are a sign of Persians’ industrial creativity.

Currently, avid visitors and researchers can see the subtle yet simple mechanism in person as several windmills have been restored and brought back to life. 101/211

 

Read More:

Historical villages shine in Alborz Province, north of Iran