Arasbaran Forest

Arasbaran in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, is celebrated for its breathtaking natural scenery and historical significance, making it a notable tourist spot in northwest Iran. Though its beauty rivals other northern forested areas, it remains relatively undiscovered. Recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve, Arasbaran experiences a unique climate influenced by the Mediterranean, Caspian, and Caucasus climatic zones, receiving about 461 millimeters of annual precipitation, mainly snow.

Declared a national park to protect its fragile environment, Arasbaran is rich in wildlife, including 220 bird species, 38 reptiles, 5 amphibians, 48 mammals, and 22 fish species, with notable inhabitants like red deer, wild goats, bears, brown bears, lynxes, and leopards. Efforts are underway to conserve and restore the maral deer population, with recent translocations from Golestan National Park.

Arasbaran’s flora is equally diverse, featuring oak, hawthorn, sumac, barberry, wild pomegranate, apple, pear, and berry bushes. The native cornelian cherry, yielding 3-4 kilograms of fruit per bush, and the region’s 250 identified mushroom species, including prized truffles, highlight its rich plant and fungal diversity. About 1,400 of the 2,400 plant species found in Azerbaijan originate from Arasbaran’s forests.