Zagros Mountains

Zagros Mountains
Terpsichores · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Zagros Mountains
Location	Iran, Iraq, Turkey
Highest	Mount Dena

Zagros Mountains. The Zagros Mountains are a long and narrow mountain range, stretching from Northwestern Iran to Southeastern Turkey, and forming the western edge of Iranian Plateau. This mountain range is bounded by the Persian Gulf to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the north, and is home to several important rivers, including the Karun River, Karkheh River, and Dez River. The Zagros Mountains are also close to several major cities, such as Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz, and are not far from the Tigris River and the Euphrates River.

Geography

The Zagros Mountains stretch for approximately 1,600 kilometers, from the Turkish-Iranian border in the northwest to the Persian Gulf in the southeast, and cover an area of around 500,000 square kilometers, passing through the provinces of Iran, including Kurdistan Province, Kermanshah Province, and Fars Province. The mountain range is divided into several sub-ranges, including the Kurdistan Mountains and the Bakhtiari Mountains, and is characterized by a series of fold mountains, including the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone and the Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc. The Zagros Mountains are also home to several important mountain passes, such as the Pirzal Pass and the Kolah Ghazi Pass, which connect the Iranian Plateau to the Mesopotamian plain, near Baghdad and Basra. The range is close to the Zagros Fault, which is a major transform fault that runs along the Iran-Iraq border, near Khanaqin and Mandali.

Geology

The Zagros Mountains are a result of the collision between the Arabian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which started around 25 million years ago, during the Miocene epoch, and is still ongoing, causing frequent earthquakes in the region, including the 2003 Bam earthquake and the 2017 Iran–Iraq earthquake. The mountain range is composed of a variety of rocks, including limestone, sandstone, and shale, which were formed during the Paleozoic era and the Mesozoic era, and are rich in fossils of ancient animals, such as trilobites and ammonites. The Zagros Mountains are also home to several important mineral deposits, including copper, iron, and chromium, which are found in the mining regions of Kerman Province and Yazd Province, near the cities of Kerman and Yazd. The range is close to the Central Iranian Basin, which is a major sedimentary basin that covers much of central Iran, including the provinces of Isfahan and Qom.

Climate

The Zagros Mountains have a varied climate, ranging from Mediterranean climate in the west to semi-arid climate in the east, with cold winters and hot summers, and are influenced by the winds from the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf, which bring rainfall to the region, including the Khuzestan Province and the Ilam Province. The mountain range is home to several important rivers, including the Karun River and the Karkheh River, which flow into the Persian Gulf and support agriculture in the Khuzestan plain, near the cities of Ahvaz and Abadan. The Zagros Mountains are also close to several major lakes, including Lake Urmia and Lake Zrebar, which are located in the West Azerbaijan Province and the Kurdistan Province, and are an important habitat for several species of birds and fish, including the Dalmatian pelican and the Caspian salmon.

History

The Zagros Mountains have a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Paleolithic era, and have been home to several important civilizations, including the Elamites, the Medes, and the Persians, who built several important cities, such as Susa and Persepolis, and are famous for their conquests, including the Battle of Gaugamela and the Battle of Issus. The mountain range has also been an important trade route throughout history, with the Silk Road passing through the region, and has been influenced by several major empires, including the Achaemenid Empire, the Parthian Empire, and the Safavid Empire, which were founded by Cyrus the Great, Arsaces I, and Shah Ismail I, respectively. The range is close to the ancient city of Babylon, which was the capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, and is famous for its hanging gardens, which were built by Nebuchadnezzar II.

Biodiversity

The Zagros Mountains are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including several endemic species, such as the Persian leopard and the Asiatic cheetah, which are found in the protected areas of the Kavir National Park and the Golestan National Park. The mountain range is also an important habitat for several species of birds, including the bearded vulture and the golden eagle, which are found in the mountainous regions of the Kurdistan Province and the Kermanshah Province. The Zagros Mountains are close to the Caspian Sea, which is the largest inland body of water in the world, and is home to several important species of fish, including the Caspian salmon and the Caspian sturgeon, which are found in the rivers and lakes of the Gilan Province and the Mazandaran Province.

Human Settlements

The Zagros Mountains are home to several important human settlements, including the cities of Sanandaj and Kermanshah, which are located in the Kurdistan Province and the Kermanshah Province, and are known for their rich cultural heritage, including the Kurdish language and the Persian language. The mountain range is also close to several major cities, including Tehran and Isfahan, which are located in the Tehran Province and the Isfahan Province, and are famous for their historical landmarks, including the Golestan Palace and the Naqsh-e Jahan Square. The range is home to several important ethnic groups, including the Kurds and the Lurs, who have a rich cultural tradition, including the Nowruz celebrations and the Yalda celebrations, which are held in the cities of Kurdistan and the Luristan Province. The Zagros Mountains are also close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Persepolis, which was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire, and is famous for its ancient ruins, including the Apadana and the Gate of All Nations. Category:Mountain ranges of Asia