Mystery of the firing Mountain

There is a mountain in Khuzestan province that it's burning for many years due to the natural gas coming out of the earth.
For years and years the mountain is burning and it hasn't turned off. We are talking about Tashkooh; one of the country's geological phenomenon. Every year many passengers travel to Ramhormoz to see it. In Tashkooh natural gases come out of tons of rock and soil and flame out to portray a beautiful landscape in the desert.
In Ramhormoz road and after Gonbadlaran village, if you drive toawrd the road of the Yellow River, you see a mountain that fire flames out of it. Natives say that Tashkooh is burning for years and years. As they have heard from their ancestors, they claim that the fire of the mountain has never been extinguished for years. Tashkooh is located in the east of Ramhormoz and six kilometers to Mamatin village and it is 120 square meters. Experts believe that reason of this phenamenon is because of the sulfur vapors rising from the porous layer of mountain surface and firing affected by the sublimation and nebulization.

The jealous Fire

Combustion of gases rising from the earth and the light of Tashkooh at night has attracted many to Khuzestan to see this natural attraction. To better see the flaming and burning mountain, most travellers try to visit the area at night. A very interesting point for most visitors is that beside natural gases of Tashkooh, they can not light up another kind of fire. To determine whether it's right or wrong, some try to light up matches or lighters but flames of natural gas do not allow them lit up. According to experts, existence of gas in the air around the mountain prevents flaming another kind of fire. Climatic conditions of the region have affected the lives of animals as well, so that when animals such as snakes and scorpions try to be near Tashkooh, they will be influenced by gas and die.

A historic Place

Tashkooh is burning for ages, so it has always been of interest to tourists and experts. Old objects have been found by archaeological excavations taking place in the area. Majid Soroush, MA in archaeology of Ramhormoz says: "many ancient objects such as vessels of clay and bitumen have been found in the study. After studying objects, experts dated them back to the Parthian and Sassanid eras. These findings include the bowl, pitcher and food transport containers and are currently kept in the museum. This discovery shows that Tashkooh has an ancient background."
There are flowing bitumen springs near Tashkooh, in the past people used them in various ways.They clearly benefited from the flexibility of bitumen and used it to build containers and earthquake-proof buildings. Tablets obtained in Persepolis indicate that the Achaemenids used bitumen springs of Tashkooh to make their dishes. In the past the flames and boiling bitumen of Tashkooh were used in containers and vessels. Soroush also says: "In the past, fire, stone, and bitumen of Tashkooh had many uses but unfortunately now, in addition to all the beauties of this mountain, sometimes some disagreeable and sad scenes can also be seen.
If addicts find an opportunity they come to this place for drug use, they use the ready fire of Tashkooh." As the Archaeological expert says despite a few talks about this beautiful area, many passengers travel to see Tashkooh in Ramhormuz. Soroosh has also a memory of travelers of Tashkooh; "One night I went to visit Tashkooh, a middle-aged man had came with his family to see Tashkooh. I asked him how he was informed of the firing mountain, the middle-aged man answered: I am a pilot and I always saw the night sky in this region is burning. It was very strange to me. I wanted to see it closely, so my family and I came to Ramhormoz." Tashkooh with its natural flame is not the only example of our fiery mountain in Iran. In the industrial city of Omidiye another mountain named Koohe Sookhte also exist.

Sookhte Mountain

In addition to Tashkooh, another firing mountain exists near the industrial city of Omidiye, aghajari. Local people call it "Zoohit" or Sookhte Mountain. In addition to the fire, black smoke from the cracks among the rocks and soil comes out which makes the mountain look black. Sookhte Mountain is smaller than Tashkooh and due to the landslide there is a gap in the crater of the mountain and gas and flame come out of it. Sookhte Mountain unlike Tashkooh turns off in the winter due to heavy rainfall and winds. Although people of Khuzestan province are familiar with oil phenomena from the distant past and seeing the fire and smelling sulfur odor and gas is not surprising to them, but sometimes natural phenomena convert to legends in people's view, for example; there was a belief among the old people of aghajari; they said that in the past Sookhte Mountain was location of city's judge which after the betrayal he made to the people his life burnt in the fire. Native elders have heard the story of the adventures of a judge who is unfaithful to be defined; Reputation of Tashkooh and Sookhte Mountain has reached to borders of other countries. Father of historiography, Greek Herodotus writes about his visit to Iran: "Iranians make use of an eternal fire that leaves no ash."

(Picture Description)

To visit the firing mountain, many tourists travel to Ramhormoz. If you want to go to this place, get help from local people because few signs have been installed on the way. In archaeological excavations conducted in the area of Tashkooh experts have discovered some historic objects. These two gold bracelets have been found in excavations.