Shirz Canyon: An Amazing Place in Heart of Iran's Kuhdasht

Shirz canyon is located at the intersection of the three provinces of Kermanshah, Ilam and Lorestan, exhibiting some of the most beautiful landscapes and wonders of the area. This canyon has longitude of 5 kilometers and flows through the river that streams to the Seymare River.

This place is surrounded by walls with a height of 150 to 200 meters. The slope of these walls begins at an altitude of less than 10 meters.

The coexistence of the rough and sharp rocks with the trees in the canyon is very interesting. The erosion of rocks and stones in this region has created a special interesting shapes. Fissured limestone walls have been eroded due to rain and therefore black streaks have appeared in this valley. Sometimes, cliffs across the canyon collide and do not allow you to watch the sky above. Occasionally the rocks fall from the altitude, changing the flow of water in the river and giving it a new form of natural beauty.

The Canyon is located near Kuhdasht city in Lorestan province, in the district of Zardalan. This strait is located on the eastern side of the Zard Mountains and near the Seymareh River_ the main branch of Karkheh.

Its special geometry and structural phenomena is considered to add a geotouristic value to the Zagros Mountains.

Geologists believe that the valley is formed as a result of the erosion of sedimentary rocks with specific layering. These rocks were formed in the third period of geology, known as Mesozoic era in a marine environment which are known as Asmari formations.

Asmari structures consist of thickened limestone and soft fossils. The obvious feature of these formations is that, in addition to hardness, they are highly soluble and create beautiful shapes when exposed to rainwater and atmospheric precipitation.

There are ancient sites in the area belonging to Stone Age. These sites also include works from cave life that has attracted a lot of tourist over the past years. This natural attraction is considered to be a unique geographic phenomenon and one of the geotouristic attractions in Iran; that is why it has been registered as a national phenomenon.

In addition to the canyon, which is enough by itself to spend wonderful hours wondering in, there are spectacular sights and attractions among the maze. Springs with their variety of sizes are only some of the beautiful attractions in the canyon.

Ashiane Parandegan (Bird Nest): Stones and sharp rocks some of which belonged to the ancient times are among the other sights of the canyon. Theses rocks with their small holes in them are a safe nest for birds.

Pole-Khoda (God’s Bridge): In the canyon there is a cave with 150 meters length, through which a river passes. The water that flows in the cave reaches up to your knee and comes from a place called Neyzeh (spear). To go inside the cave, you have to go through the water to watch the stalactites and the other wonders of creation.

Manareh Sangi (Rocky Minarets): There is a pillar in the Canyon that has been created by nature during a course of millions of years by wind and earthquakes. The height of this pillar, from the cliff to the top, is 80 meters with a diameter of 10 meters. It is known as the Rocky Minaret. Undoubtedly, visiting this rocky pillar can be both interesting and a different experiences.

Walking through the canyon and enjoying the beauty of nature is a special experience for those who visit. The sound of the river, singing along the way, makes you forget all around you.

Oak and sycamore trees are seen across the valley. On the other hand, the generous nature of the area, in different seasons, will give you a taste of fresh grapes, figs and wild pears.

Hearing the sounds of wild birds a long with watching them flying among and around the rocks at the time of visiting the Canyon is more than interesting. Mountain goats can also be seen among the rocks, traversing the tall walls of the valley with playfulness. River fishes are also part of this spectacular nature that can easily be seen in the presence of ultra-clear river water.

The best time to visit the canyon is in the spring and summer, because, due to the mountainous climate of the area, spring and summer are temperate. But in the fall and winter, the temperature decreases every day; this decrease continues until the end of the winter.

Source: Trip Advisor