Alborz

The Alborz (Persian: البرز) is a grand mountain range in northern Iran. It stretches from the border of Azerbaijan along the western and southern coast of the Caspian Sea, then runs northeast and joins the smaller Aladagh Mountains. These mountains are all part of a much larger system called the Alpide belt.

The Alborz range is split into three parts: the Western, Central, and Eastern Alborz Mountains. The Western Alborz, often called the Talysh, runs close to the western coast of the Caspian Sea. The Central Alborz runs along the entire southern coast of the Caspian Sea, and the Eastern Alborz heads northeast toward the northern parts of Khorasan.

One of the most famous peaks in the Central Alborz is Mount Damavand, the highest mountain in Iran. It is also the 12th most prominent peak in the world and the second most prominent in Asia after Mount Everest. The Alborz mountains are important for their natural beauty and as a place where people enjoy hiking and exploring.

Etymology

The name Alborz comes from Harā Barazaitī, a famous mountain in the Avesta. The Avesta is the main book of Zoroastrianism. The word Harā Barazaitī means "Mountain Rampart". Over time, this name changed to Alborz in modern Persian. This name is related to Elbrus, the tallest mountain in the Caucasus.

Mythology

Zoroastrians believe the Alborz mountains are connected to the home of Peshyotan. A group called Ilm-e-Kshnoom thinks Mount Damavand is where special leaders lived. The poet Ferdowsi wrote about these mountains in his epic Shahnameh and compared them to mountains in India. Some of these mountain names come from an old Iranian language. Examples include Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus Mountains and Mount Elbariz in the Kerman area near the Strait of Hormuz. These names are sometimes linked to a legendary mountain called Hara Berezaiti mentioned in the Avesta.

Geology

The Alborz mountain range separates the area south of the Caspian Sea from the Iranian plateau. It is narrow, only 60 to 130 kilometers wide. The mountains are made of layers of rock from different times, mostly from the Devonian to the Oligocene periods. These layers include limestone on top of a granite core.

The mountains formed when big pieces of the Earth’s crust, called plates, moved and crashed into each other. This created the Alborz Mountains mostly during the Miocene period. The area has many types of rocks such as sandstones, shales, and volcanic tuffs. These rocks show us both land and sea conditions from long ago.

Ecoregions, flora and fauna

The Alborz Mountains have different plants and animals on their northern and southern sides. The southern slopes are dry with few trees. The northern slopes are wet and full of forests.

In the lower areas of the north, you can find tall forests. Middle heights have beech trees, and higher areas have oak trees. Some valleys have wild cypress, and near the Sefidrud River, there are olive trees. The mountains are home to many animals, including foxes, deer, wild boar, bears, leopards, wolves, and birds like buzzards, geese, woodpeckers, griffon vultures, and eagles. The Caspian tiger used to live here but is gone now.

Prehistory

Archaeological evidence from the Alborz mountains shows that early human groups lived in the area a very long time ago, during the late Lower Paleolithic period. The Darband Cave in Gilan Province has remains of bears and some stone tools. These tools mostly show that bears used the cave naturally.

Later, during the Middle Paleolithic period, Neanderthals likely lived in the region. Their fossils and tools have been found in nearby caves. Evidence of modern humans appears around 30,000 years ago at a site called Garm Roud in Mazandaran Province.

Ski resorts

The Alborz Mountains have snowy winters, so there are many ski resorts there. Some people who love skiing think these resorts are among the best in the world.

Mounts, summits, alpine lakes and attractions

The Alborz mountains have many tall peaks and beautiful places to visit. Some of the highest peaks in the Alborz include:

• Mount Damavand Amol Mazandaran
• Tochal mount and summit
• Tangeh Savashi, a popular attraction
• Alam Kuh, a mountain in Alborz mountain range
• Alamut
• Dizin
• Ovan lake