Arasbaran is an example of four climates

Extracted from Rasekhoon
East Azerbaijan is one of the tourism hubs of the country, which has much potential in the field of tourism industry. The natural environment of the province has resulted in numerous conditions due to the formation of different faces of nature, and has resulted in numerous factors such as geological status, soil, climate, and biological factors.
The confluence of the Alborz and Zagros mountains and the origin of the central Iranian mountain range in this area, along with the impact of the four climates, have a rich diversity and richness in its plant and animal structure.
The Arasbarani ecosystem of the province with its unique features is considered a collection of Caucasian and Hyrcanian elements and elements of other green areas in the country that in addition to the large variety of plants, it supports the main species of protected mammals and birds.
The Ararat mountainous masses in the northern areas of East Azerbaijan have a great influence, and Armenian sheep and goats are among the most prominent elements of this collection.
Summer and winter habitats of Kyamaki hill, Gharakhchi summer quarters, and the rocky and hard paths of Kantal are the natural habitats of various species of animals, such as wild goat, the leopard and the caracals.
The central parts of the province are also connected to the central plateau of Iran, where the deer and great bustard are of special types of this species, and the species of deer is observed in the plain of Sariziyaz and great bustard is in the region of Qaraghashlagh.
East Azarbaijan is one of the most important attractions of the country for its natural attractions. Its effects, especially in the spring, can provide a great physical and physiological relaxation for tourists.
The protected area of Arasbaran, as one of the registered ecosystems in UNESCO, is one of the nature tourism attractions (ecotourism) in the city of Kalibr, which has attracted a large number of domestic and foreign tourists every year.
, in past was a wide range of the riverside border of Aras between Jolfa and Moghan, and the heights of Sabalan, Boz Ghosh and Sahand, and for several reasons such as the destruction of unique forests, it is now limited to the boundaries of the Kalibar and Ahar districts.
This protected area with an area of 80,000 and 654 hectares in the northwest of East Azarbaijan is located between the three major rivers of Arser in the north, Ilgenechay in the west and Keliberchay in the east, and is connected to the south by the highlands of Saigram.
Arasbaran was declared as a forbidden area and then a protected area in the years 1350 and 1352 because of its rare herbaceous and animal species, its pristine and vast perspectives, and its fragility and vulnerability.
Because of its natural temperament and natural beauty, the area is considered to be the habitat of one of the oldest birds in the world called "Ghareh-khorus". As a result, the UNESCO has registered the Arasbaran as protected area 29 years ago as a biosphere reserve in the list of areas of natural value in the world and added it to the network of biosphere reserves in one of the nine biosphere reserves of the country.
Arasbaran has a variety of forms of rocks, forests, pastures, rivers and fields so it has varied habitats including Anza, Kalan, Pire dare si, Qaroonlar, Qala-dare-si-Vinagh, Shahatran, and Vayeghan.
Arasbaran is a habitat for mammals such as wild goats and goats, boars, brown bears, wolves, caracals and leopards.
Among Arasbaran's native species of birds, there are also Caucasian Ghare Khorus, partridge, francolinus and pheasant, and various types of raptors and numerous water and land birds.
In the protected area of Arasbaran, 215 species of birds, 29 reptile species, 5 species of amphibians, 48 species of mammals and 17 species of fish are known.
Maral (cervus elaphus), the extinct species of the Aarsaran region have been abandoned at the Ainhalo Research Center by transferring seven animals from the Golestan National Park to a seven-acre area.
The vegetation of the protected area of Arasbaran is another natural phenomenon that, in accordance with the changing seasons, gives a special beauty to the nature of the region.
In fact, the other enchanting beauty of this region is a permanent change of landscapes and an appropriate alternative to the pasture and forest perspectives throughout the region.
Various types of herbs and bush collections, various communities of shrubbery, Hircani shrubs, along with a collection of creeper and needle-leaved trees, steppe meadows and summer quarters are found in Arasbaran.
Meanwhile, oak forests of Mamarzbeh, along with the species of Acer monspessulanum, sumac, Barberry, Wild Pomegranate, Apples and Pears, represent densely populated forests with wet climates, which reflect the forest richness of the region.
According to available statistics, 1300 plant species have been identified in Arasbaran protected area.
Arasbaran protected area is now managed and monitored by 9 security checkpoints.
Of course, the significance of the region is not only due to its ecological characteristics and its environmental capabilities, but also the historical and cultural heritage of this region itself.
The existence of historical monuments, in particular the numerous castles of Arasbaran, has been a sign of the courage and perseverance of the people living in this region. One of the fortresses is located in the village of Tatar in the northern part of the region, which is made up of rocks.
There is also a construction in the Vinegh village that is historically and architecturally important, and is attributed to someone called Tummaniance. This building, which is a castle of war, is built in two floors and today is used as an environmental checkpoint.
There is another beautiful monument in the village of Ainalu, which historically was contemporary with Vinegh building, and has been used as a barn by the locals at a time when it was not long ago.
● Caves
There are gaps and large cliffs in the hills of the eastern part of the eastern Azarbaijan, some of which are natural caves, and others are man-made by human intervention.
In the past, these caves have been used as a dune, shelter, fencing and fortification, and it can be said that most of the early humans took refuge in caves to protect themselves from harmful animals and natural disasters.
Research shows that caves are human habitats in distant times, and with the passage of time and human access to new sciences and techniques, these caves are now only a spectacular place that make you wonder.
Caves have a very beautiful and amazing nature that have always been considered as one of the main centers for the attraction of tourists, researchers and cavers, and has revolutionized the tourism industry around the world.
The East Azarbaijan due to its high mountainous characteristics and many ups and downs has a large number of caves that the pleasure of staying in its silent is possible only through the journey into these natural caverns.
Each of the caves of the East Azarbaijan, titled by local people as "Maghare", "Kahal" has created many myths for the inhabitants of their region over the years.
In fact, the caves of East Azarbaijan have become the symbol of the greatness of our beloved homeland during the thousands of years of history that liberal men have used them to fight.
▪ Cave : This cave is located at the southern part of the village of Ghareh Chaman. The width of the mouth is about 2 meters and access to it is possible from the village of Qar-e Chaman.
▪ Dugijan Cave: This cave is located in the east of Marand. You can ride or drive in the cave and width of its mouth is about 3.5 meters.
▪ Alexander Cave: This cave is located 30 km from Tabriz in the village of Saeed Abad, and access to it is possible via the Tabriz-Tehran metro transit path. The width of the mouth is only 5 meters.
"Kaboutar" Cave: This cave is located 15 kilometers south-east of Maragheh in a rocky cliff facing south and it is 1600 meters above the Mordi Chay river. At the beginning of the entrance to the cave there is a Russian inscription that shows the date of 1925.
The importance of this cave is due to the deep-water wells that have emerged as large halls. This cave is been under more attention by researchers and climbers rather than other caves.
Ghadamgah Cave: This cave is located in the southern part of Azarshahr in the village of Badmiyar, and its space is circular underground and has a diameter of 15 meters.
The altar (or mosque) of the cave with hanging Moghrnas belonging to the Safavid period is embedded in a way that we think they have been made at a later time, and now this cave is place of holding religious ceremonies in the months of Muharram and Ramadan.
Traveling into the caves of East Azerbaijan in recent years, along with the promotion of the culture of nature tourism, is growing dramatically, and tourists from many parts of our country travel to this province to watch the beauty of these natural attractions.