Caspian Hyrcanian Forests

It’s true that we’ve only seen dinosaurs in movies, but with just a few hour drive from Tehran, one can be in forests that are just as old as dinosaurs. Nestled between the largest lake in the world and the tallest mountains in the Middle East lies one of the planet’s oldest forests which have survived For millions of years. Amongst the arid landscapes that cover much of Iran, the Hyrcanian Forests stand out for their lush verdant wilderness. Stretching across an arc more than 850 kilometers long, they hug the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, which have been extended in some parts of five provinces including Semnan, Golestan, Gilan, Mazandaran and North Khorasan with 1.9 million HA area from the north of Gilan province to the east of Golestan province.

This region includes native and ancient plants and biodiversity with rarest species of the forest such as tree and shrub species, native types of Flora and fauna. With a name derived from ‘Wolf’s Land’, the Hyrcanian forests are home to wolves, brown bears, golden jackals, elusive Persian leopards, bird species, mammals and plants. The Hyrcanian Forests can be considered the mother of European forests, as a series of ice ages hit the planet during the Pleistocene epoch (from about 2.5 million years ago until 11,000 years ago), many forests across Europe and Russia were killed in the mass freezes. However, the Caspian Sea provided refuge for the deciduous broad-leaved forests in this region, which shrunk in size but managed to keep their key species alive. When the planet began to warm, the Hyrcanian Forests spread across continents – to Europe and even to North America. It’s not just the flora and fauna that dates back to prehistoric times. Signs of Neanderthals were found in the forest caves in Amlash. Protected by the resilience of the Hyrcanian Forests, the cave dwellers were able to hunt mammals and collect local plants.

The stunning and untouched nature of the Hyrcanian Forest is one of the main reasons why many travelers and nature lovers got attracted to this forest. The Hyrcanian Forest is the most significant potential of tourism in the north of Iran, and being close to the Caspian Sea has caused this region to be even more attractive. Also with its rich flora and fauna and many plant fossils, the Hyrcanian Forest is a great place for geologists and scientists, as exploring it provides so much scientific information. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for hiking in the Hyrcanian Forests with less tourists and cool temperatures. Visit in the autumn to experience the changing leaves and breathtaking landscapes. June and August are the warmest months in the Hyrcanian Forests but are some of the lowest temperatures in all of Iran. This leads many to visit during the summer to beat the heat. January through March is recommended for birdwatchers trying to catch a glimpse of migrating birds.