iran a t a g l a n c e

mirrorPUBLICATION OF THE CULTURAL COUNCIL OF THE EMBASSY OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN, NAIROBI-KENYA DECEMBER 2018 | Issue No. 5

The ‘Persian Scholars Pavilion’ at The United Nations Office at Vienna placed in the Central Memorial Plaza of the Vienna International Center features the statues of four prominent Persian figures.

Profile The Cultural Council of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Nairobi promotes mutual understanding and cultural co-operation among people of Kenya and Iran in Contents line with the principles of the cultural agreement between Iran and Kenya. The Cultural Council aims to create enduring partnership Editorial...... 4 between Iran and other cultures and we do this by creating opportunities to connect with the latest skills, ideas and Milad un Nabbi ...... 5 experience from Iran. Christmas in Iran ...... 9

Activities Library: Iran launches Middle East biggest Anticancer The Cultural Council has a very rich library consisting of myriad of books in the field of Persian language factory ...... 12 and literature. Besides, books on human sciences, history of Iran, Islamic studies, world history, religion, Islamic Foreign students studying in Iran ...... 15 philosophy, a large number of books on social sciences, political science, culture and art are also available for Iran Marathon 2019 ...... 19 readers and scholars. An Ancient Iranian sport of Horseback Archery ...... 23 Film and Art Division: The film and art division consists of video and audio tapes Iran Fizzy water: unique water springs ...... 25 of classical Persian music, art books, calligraphy models, attractive sceneries, handicrafts and various prominent Iran’s charming lakes ...... 30 Iranian films. In addition, film festivals and cultural exhibitions in various parts of Kenya are also organised Iran’s Salt Domes ...... 34 by this Office. Mangroove forests ...... 37 Public Relations Department: The department arranges meetings with prominent Visiting Esfahan; the most beautiful city in the personalities from the domain of Kenya art and culture. Organises seminars, round table discussions and cultural World ...... 41 programmes. Abbasi house; a beautiful Persian Architecture ...... 44 Information Centre: The centre provides necessary information about Iranian The beauty of Iran’s Ancient Mosques ...... 48 art, culture and all other facets of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran Ancient hydraulic system ...... 53 Distribution Unit: Persian Scholar’s Pavillion at the UN Headquaters . 56 This unit is responsible for providing Persian books, periodicals, magazines to the Persian loving people. Tehran’s attraction ...... 59 Persian Language Teaching Centre: This unit is responsible for organising Beginners, Intermidiate and advance level Persian courses for interested students. Besides, the unit has introduced Persian language teaching programme in Kenyan Universities. Scholarship for Kenyan Students We offer scholarships to study in the Islamic Republic of CULTURAL COUNCIL Iran to pursue either Bachelors, Masters or PhD. Please EMBASSY OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN visit www.irankenya.org for more information. NAIROBI-KENYA AmBank House, 11th Floor, University Way Translation Unit: The Cultural Council also does translation of books from +254-02) 2241216 (+254) 713 836041 Persian to English. [email protected] irani culture www.nairobi.icro.ir www.irankenya.org Graphic Editor/Production Graphic EDIT 4 Email: [email protected] Tel: +254713836041 P.o. Box 59595-00200 Executive Director Mahmoud Majlesain www.irankenya.org Editor/R Mwinyi Ramadhani www.nairobi.icro.ir Khamis Mohamed IRAN MIRROR Embassy of I.R.I Embassy of Cultural Council IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Nairobi-Kenya ORIAL TEAM Distribution Osman Rajab Athman Farsi Mr. MahmoudMajlesain esearch H Christmas inIran. how Christianscelebrate over 80million. We feature approximate populationof thecountry’s some 1%of where Christiansmake up predominantly Muslimnation inIran a also observed the holiday season is world celebrate Christmas, tunnels. through aseriesof Shushtarwithwatercity of Karun River, supplythe which main diversion canalsonthe two century BC. It consists of to Darius the Great in the 5th by back dates system irrigation genius‘ UNESCO creative of and hailedasa‘masterpiece waswhich registered in 2009 Historical Hydraulic System Heritage SitesinIran. exquisite UNESCO World edition exploresthe someof Empire Persian dominate thislist. great the systems, andremnantsof worship,of ancientwater Palaces, bazaars, places 19 registered cultural sites. Sites, itboastsanimpressive Heritage World UNESCO to sitestosee. Whenitcomes of A common misconception As Christiansaround the Read abouttheShushtar Iran Mirror December Editorial rn a n shortage no has Iran oldest civilizations, the ome tooneof , thisancient year season andahappy new arch. each underneath a famous Iranian personality quadrangle with the statue of asa centuries. Itisconstructed Iranian scientistsover thepast of achievements magnificent erected tocommemorate the been has that edifice an is Chartaghi , UN the outside scientists Iranian of chartaghi read aboutastorythe many sightseers in resort western Iran thatattracts tourist bustling a mountains, GaharLake is is encircledby snowcapped tourist attractions. natural top Iran’s among are and nine artificial lakes, which country hasover 20natural is basicallyadesert. Iran that is foreigners among Have ablessed holiday Dear reader, you can also Especially lake Gahar which But thefactisthat O -AyatollahKhamenei andamongMuslim in theworld Muhammad toovercome challenges Prophet Uniting aroundthelight of significance of uniting around the light ofProphet and world the in thelight challenges overcome to Muhammad around uniting of significance Revolution—this morning, November 25,2018. theIslamic Khamenei—the SupremeLeaderof on Islamic as well Conference asinvitees to theInternational countries Islamic of ambassadors officials, government n hs etn Aaolh hmni tesd the stressed Khamenei Ayatollah meeting this In upon them), the heads of powerupon them),theheadsof branches, Muhammad and Imam Sadiq (peace be Prophet anniversary of n theauspiciousbirth Unity held in Tehran met with Ayatollah Ayatullah theIslamicRepublic Iran AliKhamenei,TheSupremeLeaderof of MILAD-UN NABBI the case in the Muslim World;Muslim the are in that case countries the rather only not is this afflictions; with encountered is humanity powers, like theworldisindarkness thatday. Today, a result of the oppression practiced by the domineering its calamity will be resolved. Today,invitation, all of as the maturity toaccepttheprophet’shumanity achieves If salvation. and prosperity to us lead will it light, this Prophet Muhammad(PB deceit, and God ignorancebestowed upon the entire mankind the light the of of darkness the in immersed was world the when time a At saying: Muslim, among IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 UH). Today we too, follow if

5 IRAN MIRROR in our region, compared to ten years ago. The Zionist The ago. years ten to compared region, our in weaker much clearly is WestToday, the that: adding regime, Zionist the of abating the and regime West and the West anditsallieswillbedefeated. Palestinevictory will befor the people of and Yemen, Yemen? know must thatinthetwo Theserulers fronts, Palestineand against acts criminal its Westin the with or Yemen, andstates:Why side shouldMuslimrulers Palestine concerning matters in States United the with thatcountryandotherMuslimnationsaswell. people of the targets humiliation However,this care. not do we cows’. theAl-Saudisnotoffendedby If theseinsults, ‘milking to rulers Saudi the analogized president west Youthat: asserting them, about have rantingthe heard regime for giving into some leader’s humiliating blusters Arrogance-derived instinct—humiliatesthem. its on is, it power arrogant the as acting West— The Allah. of rule the than rather West, the follow region them. Today,will not serve our the countries of some of system tyrannical the and West the of rule the Islam; of their attention to the rule the Islamic countries to turn of rulers the recommend I held: and powersarrogant countries tofollowIslamrather thanthe of therule the Islamicawakening, theregionwillbesaved. strengthening by for possible; as advise much as awakening I Islamic region. of movement the our strengthen to nations in Muslim awakening Islamic the again, once by face, the in slapped be will Arrogance the that hold strongly I repelled. been has Arrogance thepeople, Islam of theFronthas conqueredthehearts of Wherever added: He region. the in defeated be will enemies the awakening, Islamic of power the resistance this Godand Islam. relies onthenameof and world, the in oppression against powers resistance andstated: Thereisamovement of exists in the region against the domineering, imperialist face. the in slapped been Powershavepower, Arrogant to come has Islam Wherever Islam. to incline region our of nations the because region our about obsessed are 6 i Eiec rfre t dciig oe o the of power declining to referred Eminence His Ayatollah Khamenei criticizedMuslimstatesthatally theIslamicRevolutionThe Leaderof slammedSaudi Ayatollah theIslamic Khameneiinvitedheadsof Ayatollah Khamenei assured Muslims that with Ayatollah Khameneipraised theresistancethat IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 regarding the rise of Islam and held: They held: and Islam of rise the regarding concern its and Westregion South Asian the to the obsession of the West government with allthese needs. fulfill can Islam afflictions. from suffering also are developed, apparently The Leader of theRevolutionThe Leaderof pointedout MILAD-UN NABBI defeated thankstotheresistance. will be defeated in the future; the sanctions will also be threats andanimosityhave beendefeatedsofar, and Regime won’t dare to threaten the Iranian nation. Their Todaytree.strong a Westis Zionist the nation the and and have had many But, today martyrs. the Iranian Khomeini. We enduredmany hardshipsonthispath theprophet (PB of at first, and we resisted thanks to blessings the of name sapling small and fragile a Wewere years. forty for resisting been has nation Iranian The say: to on went only way the todefeat the enemiesandattainprosperity. He being resistance of example an as powers animositiesbythe faceof theWest andothermajor willsoonbearfruit. nations—which West theMuslim anditsalliestoday istheresistanceof the frightened has resistance,what is and solution only wayforward overvictory to enemies,The that: adding assisted by God:this isadivinetradition. Those nationsthatrelyonGodandresist,willbe Yementhe peopleof andAnsar-Allah willbevictorious. the Saudi regime, supported by the West Nevertheless, are of undergoing the most severe on the part tortures by Yemen theUnitedStatesandheld:Thepeopleof backed regime, invading the byatrocities of face the in Yemenipeople the by resistance strong the praised theZionist Regime.the increaseddecliningof regime wasagainonce twojust in defeated days. revealsThis Zionist the week, last erupting confrontation the In defeated. finally was and days 8 for Gaza of while after that, it fought against the oppressed people A defeated. was and days 22 forPalestinians fought 33 days and was years later, defeated.Acoupleof it the ago, years for Lebanon’sHezbollah against fought regime Zionist few A weaker. evidently is regime His Eminence glorified Iranian people’s resistance in people’s Iranian resistance glorified Eminence His Ayatollah Khameneidescribedresistanceastheonly theIslamic Revolution TheSupremeLeaderof H) and the leadership of Imam UH) andtheleadershipof I whole of mankind– whole of mercy notonlyfor Muslimsbut for the God sentProphetMuhammadasa lsig o humans:“Godconferred favor a great on to blessing significant that Allah the Exalted considers it as a great theworldshowedpillars of us. these that path straight same the forwardon move to try to and phenomena great these and of blessings these value the appreciate and understand to blessing and on all broad-minded individuals in the world the His Imamate. grandson and God’s during the time of Hujjat on earth Abi Abdullahal-Sadiq,theHolyProphet’s (s.w.a.) Hazratalso ontheblessedbirthday anniversary of the world – Hazrat Muhammad ibn Abdullah – and of the universe and the Master of allcreaturesin theuniverse andtheMasterof of auspicious the on theHolyProphet,birthday anniversary theMaster of you congratulate to like would The holy existence the Great Prophet is so of I hopethatGodbestows onus, onallMuslims MILAD-UN NABBI He is a mercy forHe is a mercy everyone. He gave the message that world. Hesays for thatheis“amercy allcreation”. the in nation particular fora or people groupof fora He doesnotsay thattheHolyProphet (s.w.a.) isamercy Exalted uses in reference to the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.). “A for mercy allcreation”isadescriptionthatAllahthe favorbyvery is This significant. gift. great this sending Imams (a.s.) acknowledge that God has given us a huge al-Sajjadiyyah, Dua 2]. favor by sending Muhammad,HisMessenger”[Sahifa -agreat andprevious nations upon former generations praise is due to the God Who conferred upon us – not upon him)addressesAllahtheExaltedandsays, “Allah be greetings and (peace Sajjad al-Sajjadiyyah,Imam among themselves” [TheHolyQuran, 3:164].In Sahifa the believers Hesentamongthemaprophet from when Ayatullah Khamenei The Holy Quran and the statements of theinfallible The HolyQuran andthestatementsof IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

7 IRAN MIRROR hs opee olcin ihn ih, hn ht correct that then sight, within collection complete this and (s.w.a.) wethe description thatGodmakes keep abouthim. If Prophet Holy the to teachings divine of collection complete this ignore we that is problem Our acollection, completecollection. These conceptsform ayahs and to see all these concepts in the Holy Quran. the peopleintheirhands istopay attentiontoallthese religious affairs and to all those who have the affairs of My advicetomyself, toouryouth, tothepromoters of how to build the new –aremany. Islamiccommunity him,stepby– Godteaches stepandword for word, him to gives God that teachings the (s.w.a.)about and hearken nottotheunbelievers andthehypocrites.” with themdoesnotmake any God,and sense:“Fear Compromising bullying. their their and on money their power, reliance with humanity on interests greedy against enemies who impose their heavy existence and their done is It humanity. against of enemy done an enemy, is an jihad that attention pay should we jihad, of forms these all in but jihad, are things these and sometimesitis done with weapons, jihad, sometimesitis sometimes itishard it issoftjihad, cultural, sometimes, sometimes itis jihad is political, always necessary. to “kill”,butjihadis not always necessary “Kill the unbelievers say, not does He them. “kill” against”, not “fight should the against unbelievers andthehypocrites. Hesays tohimthathe fight should he that Prophet Holy the says to He 73]. 9: Quran, Holy [The them” against firm hard againsttheunbelievers andthehypocrites, andbe beware them. Elsewhere He says, of to himthatheshouldnotfollow themandthatheshould and thehypocrites”[TheHolyQuran, 33:1].Godsays Prophet, fear God, and hearken not to the unbelievers circumstances, AllahtheExaltedsays,Under such “Oh That is why they stand up against this divine movement. mercy. They are opposed to the power peoples. of 8 The ayahs theHolyQuran about theHolyProphet of Sometimes, IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 benefit from this large banquet ofdivine banquet large this from benefit peoples let to willing not are They gold. of are theownerspower, of money, of and all peoplesintheworld. for path this provided He gift. a as humans he hadreceived from AllahtheExaltedto f course,Of therearesomepeoplewho done with knowledge. All and thehypocrites”. Itis differences. denominational and intellectual through passage and assistance needs isunity, collaboration, “ What the world of Islam What theworldof “Oh Prophet, fight MILAD-UN NABBI ” goals. If Muslimsare united,thiswillbethecase. goals. If different itsownand tousetheminthedirectionof path and take to able be powersand owngovernments its power of claws the in longer no will network Zionist malevolent and malignant the and nations and governments willpowercountries, its on impose to able power anymore. thishappens, Americawillnotbe If global then unity, powers their with of willnotbeabletobeatthedrum goals Islamic their towards they theyis athreattothem!If areunitedandif move extraordinary manpowerthese resourcesandwithsuch to trying are they that is Islam of world the towards differences. intellectual and denominational through passage and Islamneedsisunity,world of collaboration, assistance the solutionfor thosemaladiesisIslamicunity. Whatthe and maladies grave from suffering is Islam the of todayworld sisters, and brothers dear this: is meeting heard lateron,whatIdeemnecessarytosay inthis be will statements these because and meeting this at of Shia andunniwithvarious philosophies–arepresent denominations various including – denominations Islamiccountriesfrom variousambassadors of Islamic honorable the and Conference”, “Unity the of guests country, andfrom othercountriesaswell asthedear path should befound. straight This 43]. 43: Quran, Holy [The straight path” feet: emergebeforeour will took behavior and that straight path the which Holy Prophet oa, h otok f roac ad imperialism and arrogance of outlook the Today, Because ourdearbrothers andsistersfrom our “Verily, you areona countries withall all theseIslamic the existence of Muslimsand half abillionand of them. Theexistence This isathreatto as possible. much from itsunityas Islam driftaway make the world of A e en n hp aog iz Siai vne and Avenue Shirazi Mirza along shops also in can seen Jesus, be baby and Joseph Mary, Virgin the Tehran. of neighborhoods Christian the in especially seen, be can hotels and malls shopping different of entrances the windowsat boxesshop or gift behind gold placed in theirstoresandhomes. hang to trees pine and figures Santa ornaments, their storming the gift shops in Tehran, buying them out of all andathome. churches themArmenians,whocelebratemost of Christmas in approximate over 80million. populationof thecountry’swhere Christiansmake upsome1%of too ChristiansEnjoyIranian Christmas eoae tes aog ih aiiy cns of scenes Nativity with along trees, Decorated and green red, with decorated trees Christmas Iran’s minorityhave ChristianArmenian been Iran, in living Christians 150,000 about are There in Iran apredominantlyMuslim nation Christmas, theholiday seasonisalsoobserved s Christiansaround theworldcelebrate Christians shopping for christmas intheIslamicRepublic Iran Christians shoppingfor of christmas CHRISTMAS INIRAN y oeges tee s o uh etito i Tehran. first in the during which ornaments, Christmas of restriction sale The such no is there foreigners, by Christmasislimited to hotelsfrequented celebration of Avenue, isheldevery year. whereaservice Villa on Church Armenian Sarkis St. the at and streets up banners celebrating the birth of Jesus on many main their religiousrituals. perform and religions their practice to freedom enjoy andalso minorities andarerepresentedinparliament, religious established as recognized are Zoroastrians on Jan. 6. celebrate ChristmasatthesametimeasEpiphany Armenians while 1, Jan. on Years’ New and 25 Dec. Christians reside. Iranian many where Tehran, central in neighborhoods surrounding its and Avenue) (Villa Nejatollahi Ostaad nie te cutis n h rgo wee public where region the in countries other Unlike In recentyears, authoritieshave municipal alsoput minority,a being Despite Iran’s Christians, Jews and Some Iranian Christianscelebrate Christmason IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

9 IRAN MIRROR of the of who arefollowers are Armenians 150,000 Christians as Mashhad. by foreigners, restrictioninTehran. thereisnosuch Christmasislimitedtohotelsfrequented celebration of Avenue, isheldevery year. whereaservice Villa on Church Armenian Sarkis St. the at and streets up banners celebrating the birth of Jesus on many main the remainderof EvangelicalChristians make up and Protestants, Catholics, Assyrians, Christianity.of Orthodox branch 10 According to the Statistical Center of Iran (SCI), over Ordinary Iranians arenotalone in theholiday public where region the in countries other Unlike In recent years, authorities have municipal also put IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Shiraz, Tabriz and even religious cities such such cities religious even and Tabriz asEsfahan, Shiraz, such cities major in specifically celebration take place throughout the country, town. Christian districts, cannow beseenaround theIslamicRevolutionyears of was limitedto Oriental In fact,festive Christmasdecoration and reside in Iran, most of who reside inIran, most of Iran’s Christianpopulation. injustice.” Jesus’ against up standing honor by birthday truly & the obey prophets to Jews & Christians Muslims, caring all for time It’s “ CHRISTMAS INIRAN Iranian Christiansinchurch Santas stationedoutsidestoresonthemaindrag. all thechocolates!” respectfor courseIlike otherbeliefs.a kind of Andof shopping withherhusbandonChristmasEve. Niloufar, aMuslimwomenwhowas inherthirties out Jesus’ birthday by standingupagainst injustice” hs clbaig epcal Iain hitas” he tweeted. Christians,” Iranian especially celebrating, to those Christmas Merry Wishing day. this on all us bless around theglobe, aswell asthoseinIran. his Twitter outtoChristians account,Rouhani reached Through leaders. world and FrancisPope to greetings time. Thisyear, PresidentHassanRouhani sentseason’s Christmas at greetings exchanging in and celebrations hita’ ln u fr efe wt oe of several one with selfies for up line Christian’s “I love the decorations, the tree. We see it as showing said us,” for attractive and interesting really “It’s The Twitter account belonging to the office of office the to belonging account Twitter The love, and peace of prophet the Christ, Jesus “May Jw t oe the obey prophets honor & truly to Jews & Christians Muslims, caring messages read: “It’s timefor all the of One Christmas. the occasionof on messages of series a Khamenei alsofeatured Ayatollah Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali of December25, Iranian Christians enjoyof Christmas attending services at the church. After the church service iseaten. meat, eggs, milkorcheese fast is byobserved the Assyrians. During these days no Great Feast. For the first 25 days December, of a long iscalledthe Assyrians comparedto the Easterwhich warIranians duringthebrutal withIraq inthe1980s. fellow their alongside adding fought said, Christians that he proudly us,” to great are They years. 400 from theauthorities. street, and says never the community faces any trouble pop songplaying outsideafood stall. breaks intoanimpromptu dance to a popular Iranian It is a time of peaceandmeditation,atimefor Itisatimeof Christmas inIran isknown tothe asthe“LittleFeast” “Why have shouldwe? (Armenians) beenherefor the on store grocery a owns Davoodian Hamed One Father thefestive Christmas, spirit, fullof during Christmas festive season couples of yearsduring Christmasfestive ago. seasoncouplesof Ayatullah the Islamic Republic Iran, having breakfast with christians Ali Khamenei, The spiritual Leader of of Christians in a christmas mass in their church inTabriz massintheirchurch Christians inachristmas CHRISTMAS INIRAN along withother Christiansintheworld. Iranian December Christians alsocelebrate the25th of take January 6th as the birth of Christ, large numbers of thecountry’s Christianpopulation up the majority of Armenians in Iran, although Iranian Armenians who make Christians, particularly onthehistory of research lot of a done has who Nourizadeh Day.Ahmad Dr. to Christmas According on wear they which clothes new get in large quantitiesandlastsfor several days. barley stew chicken calledHarrissa.Itiscooked kind of to breaktheirfast.Themaindishfor ChristmasDay isa have received that they this Communion are permitted attend Mass to receive and it is not until they Communion Almost before dawnonChristmasDay, thepeople theydinner which callthe“LittleFeast.” Nowadays Gifts are less exchanged, but children children but exchanged, less are Gifts Nowadays In fact,ChristmasEve thefast. isthelastday of IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

11 IRAN MIRROR T 12 Iran atopdestinationfor medical tourism. country,making the inside diseases of range broad a cure to technology medical modern headwaysusing in medicinesforproviding patients. awiderange such of is company the drugs, anticancer as such medications thecountrytohavefor accesstosome the peopleof 100millioneuros.investment of by theActoverco company pharmaceutical withan established was drugs, anticancer manufacturing lines by HealthMinisterSeyed HassanQazizadehHashemi. Alborz attended provinceceremony of in the northern rna eprs ae n eet er md great made years recent in have experts Iranian As the US sanctions against Iran have made it difficult factory,The pharmaceutical has9production which a during Monday on launched was factory The

inaugurated inIran onMonday. specializing in production anticancer of drugs was factory pharmaceutical biggest East’s Middle he IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Anticancer DrugFactory LaunchesMiddleEast’sIran Biggest Inside the Middle East biggest pharmaceutical factory in the Northern Province of Alborz Province of Inside theMiddleEastbiggest factoryintheNorthern pharmaceutical MEDICINE 15th 2018. November Thursday on reported IRNA price, original its of one-twentieth for drug, cancer a lenalidomide, in Iran Cancer drug, lenalidomide,domestically produced medicines forproviding patients. awiderange such of is company the drugs, anticancer as such medications thecountrytohavefor access tosome thepeopleof themedicine.production lineof the drug, but Iran broke the monopoly by the launching trade name“Ziptin”. produced by thecountry’s medicalexperts underthe been has and 2 type diabetes treats that “Sitagliptin” Iran succeededindomesticallyproduction of As the US sanctions against Iran have made it difficult Previously, company aGerman hadamonopolyon named drug rare a unveiled Iran 2015, in Back they would help decrease the needfor of importation havedrugs beenproduced inIran domestically. explained thatover the pastfew years many cancer Cell Transplantation head,AsadollahMousavi,also and Oncology for Hematology (November 15-17)in Isfahan. Society Iranian the of Congress generic humandrugs]. company pharmaceutical thatproducesmultinational SynthonCompanyproduced underlicenseof [aDutch is and Iran in doses different for in available is drug Company, AbidiPharmaceutical of explained thatthe mg costsabout$730perunit. 25 capsule oral Revlimid each guide price drugs.com to According 2005. in States United the in approved lessen theneedfor bloodtransfusions. (myelodysplastic syndromes-MDS). Lenalidomidemay blood/bonemarrowin patientswithcertain disorders anemia treat to used also is It cells. cancer of growth the stopping or slowing by works It lymphoma-MCL). myeloma, cancers(multiple treat certain mantlecell These drugs, Mousavi said, are of high quality and quality high of are said, Mousavi drugs, These Stem and Center Research Hematology-Oncology 17th the of sidelines the on remarks the made She department oncology the of head Meshki, Sepideh Lenalidomide-- withthetrade nameRevlimid—was to used is lenalidomide WebMD, to According MEDICINE the lasttwo years hasreducedthecountry’s needto it stood ataround 54 percent,” headded. when ago years two from percent 67 to risen has 21) the current[Iranian calendar]yearMarch (started produced domestically. Iran’s rawof materialsare requiredpharmaceutical third two some that said Asghari Gholamreza Director tothecountry. drugs certain shr hglgtd ht ai dvlpet over development rapid that highlighted Asghari raw materials in pharmaceutical “The production of Administration Drug and Food 7 November In IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

13 IRAN MIRROR lymph nodes, aswell asyour bonemarrow (thesoft nodes. They may enteryour bloodandspreadtoother helpyourcells, body which fightinfections. marrow bone a or transplant. chemotherapy involve might disease anditstreatments. Insomecases, treatment the of complications preventing or reducing on focuses your inside bones wherebloodcellsaremade(bonemarrow). material spongy the in amiss something 14 These cancer cells start to form tumors in yourThese cancer cells start lymph whiteblood Mantle celllymphomaisacancerof Treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes usually IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Myelodysplastic syndromes resultfrom blood cells or ones that don’t work properly. disorderscausedbyof formed poorly 33 percent. raw materials by pharmaceutical imported yldslsi snrms r a group a are syndromes Myelodysplastic Mantle celllymphoma Myelodysplastic syndromes MEDICINE available tohelpcontrol thedisease. treatmentsare who requiretreatment,anumberof myeloma multiple with any people For symptoms. experiencing or signs aren’t who people for necessary complications. cancer cellsproduceproteins abnormal thatcancause blood cells. Rather thanproduce helpfulantibodies, the in thebonemarrow, wherethey crowd outhealthy that antibodies germs. recognize andattack by making infections fight you help whitebloodcellcalledaplasma cell.Plasmacells of canhelpyousupport live longer andbetter. can’tit cases most in Although and treatment cured, be diagnosis. a get you time the by body your of parts spleen, andliver. tract, digestive made), are cells blood where center Treatment formyeloma multiple isn’t always Multiple myeloma causescancercellstoaccumulate Multiple myeloma isacancerthatformsintype Often, mantlecelllymphomahasspreadtoother Multiple myeloma Iran Foreign Studentsstudying in EDUCA TION IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

15 IRAN MIRROR C studying in the country at the university level where a where level university the at country the in studying thisopportunity,”of he was quotedby IRNA as saying. most makethe wemust and studyingIran, in in interest Jamaleddin in Hamedan,HamedanProvince thisweek. earlier to Sayyed visit a during said Mohammad Farhadi, the minister, academic cooperation,” international greater prepare the grounds for university students inIran and foreign of to doublethenumber and Technology. the Ministry of the priorities of one of to Almustafa UniversityInternational affiliated the in 17,000 universities and Health of the Ministry the in 2,000 University, Science,the Ministryof 10,000intheIslamicAzad 16 ome 52,000 international studentsare currently Some 52,000 international “Students from many countries have expressed “The ministry is trying is Iran in students foreign of number the Increasing IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 have enrolled in the universities affiliated to affiliated universities the in enrolled have them studentsinIran, 26,000of international morethan55,000 urrently thereareatotalof Assadabadi University Technology of the Ministry the priorities of of one is Iran in students foreign “ nraig h nme of number the Increasing Science, Research Science, and Research EDUCA .” the ministry had said that earlier more foreign students from Asia,Africaand LatinAmerica. added thatthecountryisready toadmitmorestudents working hard to promote their international stature and medical sciences and the remaining 3% are art students. Georgia, Vietnam, Slovenia, Serbia, Oman, Nigeria, Croatia, Pakistan, Slovakia, Romania, Taiwan, Egypt, Germany,India, Mexico, Lebanon, Senegal, Denmark, France, Bahrain, theUK,Azerbaijan,Indonesia,Russia, the Netherlands, Korea, Italy, Armenia, Canada, Ukraine, Poland, Singapore, the US, Australia, Pakistan, Turkey, Kenya, Japan, China, Syria, Moldavia, Hungary, English language. the in taught are programs of number large TION The director general for foreign students’ affairs at affairs students’ foreigngeneralfor director The The minister said Iranian universities have been Iraq, Afghanistan, from nationals are them Among ore, 7 in 17% engineering courses, and enrolled in technical Persian language), 30% are (including students’ study humanities foreign around 50%of and He addedthat Sudan. four prioritizededucationaldegreesasfollows: andTechnology.Research Science,the StateEducation(anjesh)inMinistryof of Assessment for Organization the by administered is which (Conquer) exam state centralized a through to alleligibleIranians andnon-Iranian applicants. international more students. enrolling for scene the set which 1,000majoruniversities worldwidethe listof in2018 in universities Iranian three twenty placed Rankinghas Leiden TechnologyStudies and Science for Center the adding, said, he students,” international attract to is country. the in students foreign for rates admission highest the have Mashhad of University Ferdowsi Technologyand effect inJanuary 2016. Joint so-called the Comprehensive Plan of Action deal, (JCPOA) which came higher into nuclear of the centers after Iranian learning in study to applying are • • • • The higher education system in Iran generally includes theIranian applicantsisdone The admissionof institutesinIran are open Universities andresearch Science themajorpoliciesinMinistry of One of Tehran,The University of University Amirkabir of PhD Program (4years) Masters Program (2years) Program (4years)Bachelor Technicians (2years) EDUCA TION types of scholarships: types of two payment, therearetwo of circumstances. Interms the between MOUs Parties, signed the course the student wishes to study and other the meeting; to board according scholarship the in decided is which allocatedtotheapplicant, scholarship on thetypeof directly submittedtotheIranian University Directly. be can Forms Application completed the universities; Technology) inTehran. countries completed (Foreign Affairs, Higher Education or the Science& countries; Application two Form through the relevant ministries of their the between MOUs Embassy, Iranian home country. the g. Consulate, orthestateinstitution,etc.)basedin (e. channels diplomatic Iranian through submitted be should Form Application completed the Technology; and Research Science of scholarship: can apply for threetypesof sponsorship. Self and in Iranian UniversitiesScholarships under studying, degree courses their of own choices The total fund allocated to each applicantdepends The totalfundallocatedtoeach c. S allocated bycholarships the Iranian b. allocated by scholarships theIranian Ministry a. candidates eligible The Scholarship For So far there are about 10 Kenyan coasis loae bsd n h signed the on based allocated Scholarships IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Students

17 IRAN MIRROR the Iranian Scholarships:- For Kenyan Students the following are the conditions for accommodation costs. Type only covers full tuition fees and B: this scholarship below. table Living the in given is student each to allocated annual Stipend the addition, In costs. accommodation Type covers fulltuitionfeesand A:thisscholarship 18 • • • • • PhD Masters Bachelous IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Schorlaship fKeny Admission priorities areBA, MA&PhD(in all Class Honours) GPA.(First18/20 of score average an and old Applicants for PhDstudiesshallbe29-30years class honoursUpperDivision. of score Second or average undergraduate their an in GPA 17/20 and age of years 26 Applicants for MAstudiesshallhave maximum average an have 15/20GPAscore of (C+) & old years 22 maximum be shall studies undergraduate for Applicants sat for KCSE notmorethan2 years ago. have haveA studentmust scoredB+ and must Degree Programme 90 81 72 Single Monthly Stipend(USD) 153 137.7 122.4 Married an Students EDUCA an acceptance form. TION Thereafter youThereafter and a in fill to required be will form • • • • • • following arethedocumentsrequired: you meetthecriteria andinterestedtoapply,If the • • • • • • Affairs Foreign of Ministry and Education of by the Ministry Transcripts and certificates Degree or slips result certificates KCSE of copies Certified (Category A) scholarship full enjoy Iranology Persian and literature pursuing in interested students ONLY Persian shallbeusedastutoriallanguage degree course respectivethe commencing to forprior months 6 Student must undergo a Persian language course trips withinIran arecovered by thescholarship Tuition, accommodation,mealsandacademic have own pocket money Stipend isnotprovided therefore astudentmust fields except medicalsciences). graduates) Introduction letterfrom theUniversity (for post CV photo One passport Copy Passport of certificate Copy Birth of byReturn airticket isborne thestudent IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

19 IRAN MIRROR T 7th, 2017 and a planned 3rd I run Iran on Kish island Kish on Iran run I 3rd planned a and 2017 7th, April 9th, 2016. Followed by the 2nd in Tehran April Iran Marathonto the 1st International at Persepolis on roadin Iran. that lead It wasa challenging of the start running street introduce to up came idea the keepers shop local surprised by (‘affarin!’) encouraged being fullimmersioninthePersianof culture. pioneer. Hisplanned4+weeks stay became4+years Dutch a by Iran in ago years 12 founded was Road and its treasures! preparation for your marathon and discover Kish island in relax conditions,weather local to wayused youget This supporters. and runners first the arrivalthe with of February of 27th Wednesday on start will program from Dubaiacross thePersian Gulf. TheKishevent 20 hl rnig ne te o Yz dsr sn and sun desert Yazd hot the under running While Iran SilkRoad. isan initiativeI run of Iran Silk

t o Mrh 09 Ks i a 5 iue flight minutes 45 a is Kish 2019. March of 1th take place on Kish island (Iran) on Friday morning Iran: ‘Persian Irun Run’his 3rdeditionof will Gulf IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 arathon (Irunran) Marathon Persian Gulf Kish IslandtoHost3rdEditionof SPOR TS for the international runnersworld but it is a big step big a is it but runnersworld international the for step small a be might This distances! all in participate route details uponcollectingyour number. BIBstart Kish map for more info. You will be briefed with exact the Check paved track. road/bicycle a on flat is route the Persian coastline. Altitudeissealevel Gulf andthe along run island the around unique a is distance 42K marathon. The marathon and10Kquarter 21K half including USandUKnationals. visitors, foreign for obligation visa no has Kish zone, free a Being run. unique this in participate to invited and recreation.Runnersfrom allover theworldare 42kilometresandwell knowncoastline of for itstourism 2019! Friday march 1stof Female runners aremorethanwelcome runners to Female runners Female Persian Runhas 3distances:42Kfullmarathon, Gulf Kish Islandisamarathon Islandby naturewitha R oute &Distances Run. yourforenergyduring bananas an boost Persian Gulf stations. We will also try to supply you with dates and route. Butalsothe21Kand10Kdistanceshave water marathon42K the wateralong present be will stations 7 least At run. your during you support will volunteers allthreedistances.for maleandfemalewinnersof Prices will be awarded to first, second and third places gift as a souvenir their of unforgettable Kish island run. Persian Run.Participants Gulf willalsoreceive aPersian your atthisonceinalifetime reminder of participation the42K,21Kand10Kdistances. Asymboland of strength anddetermination! excellent fortoshow femalerunners opportunity their Iran. DespitetheserestrictionsthePersian Runisan Gulf Irun at below atpreviouseditionsof femalerunners look a have idea an Togetmandatory. is code dress separately fromwill start menandamodesthijab Thismeansthat womenapply torespectislamicrules. promoting (female)streetrunning. jogging and running. You can play an important part in inspired to adopt a new healthy life style by outdoor be And life’. ‘wayof this to used get to have Iranians where street is running not (yet) common practice many forward intheIslamicRepublicIran. Inacountry of To make sureyou donotdehydrate water station stations Support awardedfinishers are to medals Iran Exclusiverun I regulations local takeconsiderationthat Please into Medal andPrices SPOR TS nations and all people. Running together is an excellent the way towards friendshipbetween international all towards equalrightsinsport. an international Persian marathon. run A groundbreaking step will women history long Iran’s in time first the areexpectedand Forfemale runners toparticipate. athletes from 45differentcountries. Persepolis and in the capital Tehran attracted over 750 light materialwithsunreflectingcolors. and cream headwear like abuff, orcapin bandana,headscarf sun use local account; into take conditions to weather you recommend strongly We sunrise. around morning the in early start will PersianRun Gulf day some clouds. To aheatstroke March minimizetheriskof occasionally of with degrees 25 beginning around is The temperature breeze. sea nice a with climate humid warm, a has island Kish average chip via measurement electronic by and/or finish be setup. Eitherby manualstopwatch, photo will system timing a distance each on runners Main organizer Iran Silk Road is determined to pave At this3rdKisheditionanestimated1500male Iran’ ‘Irun attheancientcityof Previous editionsof on But weather. the as predict to hard as Nothing Depending on the number participating of Weather conditions Weather Timing IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

21 IRAN MIRROR of sanctionsthatwere onlyliftedlastyear.of decades Westfollowing the to off closed were which culture, and arts food, their as well as sport, through runners around toexperience the world Iranian hospitality want they Tehran, to marathon the bringing for 85 millionIranians torun fun. of younga inspire population to intends Iran.It in running distance long promoting at aimed Straten Sebastian way tobreakbarriers between ‘usandthem’. 22 ernbsd raie Mra Fie ad by said Feize Maryam organiser Tehran-based Iran’run ‘I isaproject founded in2015by Dutchman IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 SPOR and experience the rich Persianand experience therich culturefirsthand. bridges, mosquesandpalaces. of splendour century 17th its of because world the of Like Iran. Alsocalledhalf Esfahan, thecultural capitalof cities. amazing its and Iran real the discover to Sanction and travel ban. Trump’s Donald President US of target the bridges,making walls.”not recently,Just been Iranhas TS It is a unique chance to get a taste of Iranian food Iranian of taste a get to chance unique a is It event sport offersauniquechance This international “We want to show everybody in that Iran isapartner sources todescribe asoldierwhorode to battlebut is archery called Yabusame. horse where Japan, of tradition samurai honoredinthe cametobeparticularly horse archery the Huns), Mesopotamia, and East Asia. In East Asia, Europe and also spreadtoEastern (viatheSarmatians Turkic peoplesduringtheMiddleAges. the and Mongols Hungarians, the by and antiquity, in Sarmatians, Parthians, SassanidPersians) andIndians period, medieval as well astheIranian peoples, (Alans, Scythians, the and antiquity during Eurasian nomads the of characteristic defining a was It war. forforhunting,herds,for and protecting the technique wasareas,largesuccessful it open In animals.highly a riding other of backs the from used been occasionally able to shoot while riding fromhas horseback. Archery a Korea, Hungary andPoland. into evolved has it competitive sport in but countries as such Iran, Japan, South warfare, or hunting for H The term mounted archer occurs in medievalEnglish in occurs archer mounted term The By theexpansion thesepeoples, thepractice of isacavalrymanwithbow, armed A horsearcher Horseback archery Horseback archery of Sport The AncientIranian the ninthcenturyB.C. incentral Asia has been practiced since orseback archery rgnly hreak rhr ws used was archery horseback Originally, SPOR TS he died.He is rememberedasahero. shooting upon and strength his all up used Arash that, was arrowan byFor Arash. of Afghanistan byshooting the determined today’s and Iran between border the that it has Legend Archer. the Arash is characters and for ritualpurposes.” throughout role important Iranian history...thebow was usedfor very war, for sport a played archery Iranian historianwritesthat“next tohorsemanship, competitions. teams andarchery with housing. Even in small towns there are classes, local programalong training full-time directly,a promises it parents Targeting women. for promotes government shoot onthesamefield. women and men Tochal, In men. alongside public, in physicalthere’s movement, notalotof they canpractice republic. They canwear theirfullhijaband,because use. hascreptintomodern archery’, from the saddle at the gallop. Another term, ‘horseback used more specifically to describe a warrior who shoots is the term who dismounted to shoot. ‘Horse archer’ n rna lgn to oe f h ms famous most the of one too, legend Iranian In hasroots inIranian history aswell.Archery One theIranian thefew sports hasbecomeoneof Archery issimplypractical inthisIslamic For women, archery IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

23 IRAN MIRROR so his goal is to keep the Persian culture alive, so theyalive, so Persianculture the keep to is goal his so to preserve. hard works Ghoorchian heritage a – culture archery’s and Portolano immersedthemselves inhorseback to photograph her adventure. Upon arriving, Minkkinen a trip,Minkkinen’sbut PortolanoBrice friend along came arrange long to a country.That’s home his Iran, in session training archer, horseback world-champion home, Minkkinenwanted from tolearn thebest. a sought near instructors find she archers new most Although coach. archers, beginning many like so, and practitioner, didjustthat. Anna Minkkinen,aFinnishstudentandmartial-arts to Study Horseback Archery over andover.technique same the repeating arrows, their shoot methodically differ from those seen in the that blendsspeedwithaccuracy. including javelin throw andfencing. athletes from 19countriestogether intheIranian city. 24 “Ali isvery, very passionateaboutPersian culture, That’s a why she contacted Ali Ghoorchian, Minkkinen wanted abouthorseback archery tolearn lesson? archery an for globe the cross you Would Anna Minkkinen, a Finnish osbc aces s sotn tcnqe that techniques shooting use archers Horseback is a fast-paced adrenaline ride Horseback archery categories different in held was competition The IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Province onThursday. inShiraz, Fars Championship kicked off the sport. man, women inIran today aretheheroes of h fu-a cmeiin ruh 50 brought competition four-day The Horseback Archery The International a is Iran of archer legendary the While

Olympics. Student who went to Iran lympic archers Olympic archers

SPOR shooting technique andtoget itbetterandbetter.” basic shooting technique my on work still to training archery horseback basic the was it of “Most blog. her in wrote Minkkinen month-long a camp tohoneherskillsfurther. for Iran to returned June Minkkinen In 2017, Ghoorchian. with training kept she archery, she rode ahorseatfullgallop, bow inhand. as arid passion new Iran’s her find Minkkinen and helped mountains heritage that Perhaps historically. in Iran, accordingtothePortolano. sport the practicingfew the of one archer,is master a for theirprowess inhorseback archery, butGhoorchian, known are Korea South and PolandHungary, Japan, between a re-enactment and a high-speed tournament. foot soldiers. of armies fighting when devastating and mobile fast, wereThey battle. in advantage an them gave archers horseback lifestyle, andproved effective inhuntingandwarfare. style camefrom thepeople’sThis archery nomadic practiced sincetheninthcenturyB.C. inCentral Asia. centers around hasbeen horseback archery, which many alongside grew culture in Asia and the Mideast cultures. Archery’s styles archery progressed, National told Portolano doing,” Geographic inaninterview. they’re what of like todressintheoldtimesandfeeltimelessness TS “During this trip, I learned and experienced a lot!” a experienced and learned I trip, this “During After that first trip introduced Minkkinen to horseback Even so, Iran was hometohorseback archers today that’s is a sport a crossHorseback archery powerfulThe short, bows recurve usedby ancient steepedinhistory. isanold sport Archery Ashumans a uniquenatural (Badab-e Surt)(Badab-e spring inIran Fizzy water : a uniquenatural (Badab-e Surt)(Badab-e spring inIran Fizzy water IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 :

25 IRAN MIRROR ft) above sea level. It is believed that themineral active mineral springs, located at 1,840 meters (6,040 sedimentary rock deposited by flowing water from two during sunset. especially scene fascinating and wonderful a provide sceneries surrounding the as well as mountains the of outskirt the on spring the of location the and terraces these a naturally formedstaircase. Thebeautyof as shaped pools yellow-colored and red orange, of theheavier minerals inthetopterraces. Theresultisanumber depositing terraces bottom the to flows years. of thousands over mineral flowing water of result a as range of stepped travertine terrace formations created filled mineral waterwith sparkling glowing terraces inthesunlight? stone colorful about How time? same natural a witnessing wonder? of delight additional the with wonders. naturalhistorical sites, but it also has an abundance of 26 urt’s terraces are made of travertine, Badab-e-Surt’s terraces are made of a it as clearer gets terraces the in stored water The Welcome Mazandaran Province, toBadab-e-Surt, a the at you inspires and you amazes that Something Tehran of out trip day a for looking are you if So Iran isnotonly anancientcivilizationwithplentyof IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 FIZZY W and ‘ab’ meaning water, translating to “fizzy water”, “fizzy to water,translating meaning ‘ab’ and iron oxide sedimentsatitsoutlet. large the to due mainly orange predominately is and taste sour a has spring second The conditions. skindiseasesand rheumatism andsometypes of to have medicinalproperties, especiallyasacure for considered wateris its pool; natural small a in gathers staircase shape. current its slope the give to hardened eventually that behind itscarbonateminerals inajelly-like substance feet above sealevel. Whenthewater cooled,itleft 6,000 over from mountain the down bubbling water sending years of thousands spent springs hot mineral glistens uponit. sunlight the day of time the on depending colors shifts that mirrors of staircase dreamy,sky-reflecting a into water becomes clearer as it flows down, turning this site thesteps,heavier mineralsthe settleatthetopof the Because carbonate. mineral depositing degasses, range. same time as the latest folds in the Alborz mountain the Paleoceneat the era, during created were springs A TER Badab is a Persian compound of ‘Bad’ meaning gas, water that salty very contains spring first The This sitewas crafted by natureaftertwo different Aswater thesurface, reaches carbondioxide except road for isdirt but thelastfew kilometerswhich Mazandaran provinces. Both routes are well paved and Semnan both through road via accessible easily place tovisitover theweekend. ideal an it making kilometers; 370 is Badab-e-Surt to Tehran from distance total The village, Orost of west the provincenorthern of Mazandaran and 7 kilometers word meaningintensity. is an old Surt name for the Orost village and a Persian water.mineral carbonated spring’s the to refers which h Oot ilg ad aa--ut pig are Springs Badab-e-Surt and village Orost The Sariin thecityof Located 95kilometerssouthof How toGetThere FIZZY W A TER reach Orost village.reach most beautiful jungle province,routes in the northern to or air and then drive towards Kiasar county, the one of Mazandaran Province, through one travelling must first go While to Sari village. via road Orost reach finally towards countyandFuladMahallehto Shahrmirzad continue must one county, Mahdishahr towards driving thisprovince.due tothenatural beautiesof better quality, theMazandaran route ismorepopular of is Semnan through passing road the While smooth. Travertine are asBadab-e-Surt formationssuch h Sma rue ass hog Sma city; Semnan through passes route Semnan The SimilarPlacesaroundtheWorld IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

27 IRAN MIRROR 28 IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 FIZZY W A TER calcite deposits. This areaisknown for by itscolorfulpoolsformed of historic area in the northwest part carbonate minerals leftby theflowing water. of terraces travertine and springs hot contains city The natural site inDenizli Province insouthwestern Turkey. deposition. duetotherapid rate of change from limestonewhosefeaturesconstantlyandquickly in Yellowstone in America are formed Nationalpark 2011byin February researchers. ateamof the terraces were of rediscovered1886. But some parts completely destroyed by aviolentvolcanicin eruption been have to thought long for were Maori in Tarata el Agua. White Terraces, and Italy’s Bagni San Filippo and Mexico’s Hierve Pink Zealand’s New USA, in Springs including Hot world, Mammoth China, the in across Huanglong Turkey, in sites Pamukkale six in only found aa--ut pig wr rgsee a Iran’s as registered were Springs Badab-e-Surt and scenic a is yellowdragon) (literally Huanglong a is Turkish) in castle” “cotton (meaning Pamukkale The travertine terraces the of Mammoth Hot Springs Te and Terraces White and Pink Zealand’s New ational Heritage National ichuan, China. Sichuan, FIZZY W A TER tickets onlytoseethespringsfrom a distance. are notallowed purchase accesstothesiteandmust water. ThisiswhilethevisitorstoPamukkale in Turkey the in dipping just photographterracesor fora taking the on step to not visitors the ask boys village see to have for so manycherished years. they It is quite a common site springs the protect to villagers the to is left it site, the near board information an installing as these fragile how of aware millenia-old terraces are. not are the from who terraces visitors and springs protect to measures as anatural site, theauthoritieshave nottaken any this natural wonder, citing that despite being registered repeatedly expressed regardingconcern protection of 2008. in Organization Heritage Cultural by registered sites natural three were Cedar Abarkouh and Springs Surt second natural site in 2008. Damavand Mount, Badab-e Given the lack of protectiveGiven of measures, the lack even as little The environmentalists andnaturelovers have IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

29 IRAN MIRROR A flora look almostvirgin. and environment the so lately protection good under thelakeand 500m wide. is28mmaximum. Depthof Lorestan. It is 2360m above the sea level, 1700m long mountains in Zagross Range in Iran’s western province of the mostscenicsurroundings: among Iran’s topnatural touristattractions. natural and nine lakes,artificial are about which 15 of the25thlargest inthe world. Desert, desert Lut to home is water-stressedand most region planet’s attractions isconspicuousbyof itsabsence. large-scale global campaign to publicize Iran’s myriads 30 The area is one of thefew ones inIranThe areaisoneof thathasbeen Lake GaharislocatedbesidetheOshtorankouh of some in located lakes must-see five list we Here But thefactisthatcountryhas, for instance, 28 It isnothelpedby thefactthatIran islocatedinthe IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Iran isbasically adesert. common misconception among foreigners is that Iran’s Lakes Mostcharming You canhardlyfaultoutsidersfor that,asa Lake Gahar Ovan lake duringwinter LAKES the southwest of the mountains. One must begin the trek unspoiled landscape. the thathashelped immenselytopreserve policy fishing and no-hunting strict a is there Area, Protected experience thanitsounds. vistas, however, make thetrekafarmoreenjoyable isnoother there as way the lake. The scenic route to reach and unique a the mountain endure up to willing trek those five-hour for reward a is lake the lake. a caused has dam this behind aggregation gradual thewatermouth andcausedonenatural dam,which highlands. The big sliding mass has locked a big valley flowing adjutant springs from an and fromrills feeded that hasbeenappearedduetothelandslide. Itis many sightseersandenvironment buffsevery year. attracts that Iran western in resort tourist bustling a is The lake isformed inavalley called Gaharoud in Given the lake’s locationintheO shtorankouh Dubbed “thejewel Oshtorankouh” by of thelocals, lakes of sample best the among is Lake Gahar Encircled by snowcapped mountains, GaharLake many travelers putKurdistan intheir bucket-list. the people. That’sroads, culture of why and the rich very popular for itspurenature, scenicmountainous water. surrounding with brimming the constantly is fromZarivar ensures mountains snow melted lakebed; the in region. of one Iran’s water most beautiful bodies of in a picturesque undoubtedly is Zarivar that remains fact the popularity contradicts itsstatusasa“lost”paradise— “Kurdestan’s LostParadise” by thelocals. called affectionately , Zarivar Lake to tourists treats biggest freshwater westernIran; lake Zarivar. of Iran’scapital cityof Kurdistan, province thereisthe of themselves withcampingessentials. Lake Gahar,of so travelers are advised to equip from AligoudarzCountyinLorestanProvince. Province of Kurdistan in western region of Iran, is Iran, of region western in Kurdistan of Province The lake has no tributaries and is not fed by springs lake’s misnomer—the a be may that Although Marivan inKurdestanThe ancientcityof Province provincial the Sanandaj, from away 130km Just vicinity the in night the staying up end people Most LakeZarivar LAKES Lake Gahar Abdolhaq Shrine. religious and and Tower Lajim historical Bridge, Veresk including several attractions, to close located is Province. Mazandaran lush the in Sefid Pol-e of east kilometers most notable attraction in Savadkouh, a small village 6 has tooffer. lake the activities popular most the among are winter from distance walkingdense oakforests. within and Range Mountain old oakjunglesonthehills, andRocky Mountains. plains, through passes It Iran. in roads beautiful most just 2kmaway from thelake. isonethe Thisroad itself takemust theroad from SanandajtoMarivan, acity 1285mfromat theelevation thesealevel. of travelers, isthefreshwater lake Sanandaj inthewest of h lk’ poiiy o nme o vlae and villages of number a to proximity lake’s The lake the trees, alder towering by Surrounded Despite its small size, Lake Shourmast is arguably the during skating ice and summer the in boats Riding Zagros western the in located is Zarivar Lake one Zrewar) Zeribar, (aka Lake Zarivar reach To the main attractions that amaze almost all One of LakeShourmast IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

31 IRAN MIRROR Iran, Lake Khuzestan Temi of part in the northernmost the provincial capitalQazvintoAlamut. campfire around thelake. quaint the given landscape Ovan,of most opt to set but up tents and light a options, accommodation with lakebed alsofeedOvan withcrystalclear water. originates in the Alborz Mountain Range. Springs in the called Ovan—presumably the lake’s namesake—that Province, isthealpine-like Ovan Lake. holiday peak during theheavytraffic. season becauseof verdant hassle the a is to provinces capital northern Iranian the from Traveling to Mazandaran. routesmain Tehranthe connecting of one near location erect tentsandspendanightby thelake. can task. nature toward affinity an an easy with those Nonetheless, accommodation finding makes towns 32 Perhaps theleast-well known mountainlakes in of Lake Temi Ovan viaaroad Lake thatconnects canbereached travelers provides villages near location lake’s The The only tributary that flows into the lake is a stream Surrounded by four small villages in Qazvin Alamut, This convenience, however, comes at a price: is easily accessible,Shourmast thanks to its convenient IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Ovan Lake rmia, Northwestern Iran Lake Northwestern Urmia, LAKES meters in2017. hasdramatically decreased to 2.5 billion cubic which meters cubic billion 30 at measured 1997 in lake the hypersaline lakes water intheworld.Thevolume of at and also goodprecipitationintheregion. dams fromwater of releasing to thanks increased has Ahvaz. Dezful, acity151kilometersfrom theprovincial capital with talloaktreesandexpansive shrubberies. area. the in humankind of sign any find to hard-pressed be wouldyou that winter in cold so becomes region rural the fact, In months. winter chilly the during mountains water is supplied by the melting snow that blankets the sizzling heat. region’s the from reprieve travelers provides Province Lake Urmia is one of the largest permanent permanent largest the of one is Urmia Lake waterThe level Iran, of inLake northwestern Urmia, To thelake, reach you have totravel from north Temi issurrounded by avast, lushplainthatabounds KeynoSituated atthefoot of Mountain,Temi’s Lake Urmia LAKES Lake Shurmat Zarivar Lake IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Masjed-e Jame pulpit

33 IRAN MIRROR J is before the village of Bachan is sweetdrinkable is and Bachan villagebeforeof the is river the because region, the in factor livelihood only causesthesaltywater theriver,which of isperhaps the Hormozgan andBushehr.especially intheprovinces of region. There’re nearly 114 salt domes in southern Iran, salt underlying the and surface soil the on residue salt thesummitis1,350metersabove sealevel.height of the dome is about 3666 hectares and the The area of Mountain. Jashak the of heart the in wide miles half salty glaciers, salt springs, and the valley of cauliflowers. assaltywaterfalls,features such saltycaves, saltholes, natural phenomenonon1388(2010). Iran’snational as was registered dome salt Jashak the and most beautifulsaltdomesinIran and theMiddleEast, largest the of one As Iran. Southern in province Bushehr of region Dashti in village a near located is East. salt domesinIranandtheMiddle 34 The special position of the Jashak salt dome (Dashti), Jashak salt dome appeared due to high evaporation and 4 and long km 12 is slope salt or dome This This domehasattractions for touristsfor itsunique dome, salt Dashti as known also dome, salt Jashak province. It is one of the largestprovince. and most beautiful It is one of Zagros Mountains,of in Iran’s southern Bushehr ashak saltdomeisalarge areaonthesouthernslope IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Middle East SaltGlaciersinthe the largest JashakBushehr; The saltdomeof SALT DOMES In general, the vegetation the of region consists gon, of are also saline resistant plants on the mountain slopes. there and vegetation, excellent have and mountains the layersbut most of are calcareous from the salt anyvegetation,contain not does salt, has dome,which mound islocatedwithinthe river valley. salt Parts thesalt of Jasak The abundant. springs salt and caves salt only are there of and wells, springs and drainage water, any fresh lacks it climate, and topography of You thedome. thefoothills of dome,reached the to road road the Kordlan, of village the the side dome eastern of if, after the bridge the of from and area the in operating mine salt rock old the of road dirt village,the throughGanakhak from km 3 thearea. remains andcausesthesalinityof soil the of surface the on salt of evaporation high the for reason The and plains Dashti and Choghapur of the season its of high water, the river flooded the levels during River,and Mend the of bed the to water its of fluidity the and dome the of activity high the indicates salinity,which of percentage high a with comes water and agricultural use. It ismountainousandduetothespecialconditions The way sideis toaccess thedomefrom theeastern But after crossing the dome and passing it, the river’s luster color variations can be found in this area. Various and many salt crystals with metallic and non-metallic geo-morphological erosion creations. themostbeautiful salt dome. Itcanbecalledasoneof saltcrystalscanbeseen insidethesecaves.form of the in stalactites and stalagmites Beautiful dome. the are createdby saltdepositsaround thedissolutionof autumn. mid-spring tosummerandearly and dry weather. Thisphenomenoncanbeseenin hot in vaporizes water when naturally appear dome flow the along that waterfalls The dome. salt the of thedomelooklike iceglacier. of Some parts snowy plainsfrom mountainsintheeastern faraway. salt salts,andtears. thereareabundantshrubs salty valleysof the in beauty.Also, special a it giving plants, annual of variety a with spring and winter in surface earth’s the cover which scissors, and geishid, The non-silicate minerals such as pyriteas mineralsnon-silicate The fluorine,and such Water erosion caused some stunning patterns on the thedomeis salt caves. ThecavesAnother featureof A beautifulsaltwaterfall isanothertouristattraction the dome make it look likeWhite salts of a beautiful Jashak saltdomephenomenaare: SALT DOMES pleasant face. Thesewaterfalls, areinfactthe which theSaltDome, hasabeautifuland attractions of which thedomeandisknownof for itssimilaritytoicefrosts. margin the on formed are Earth, the of gradient the of direction the in masses salt the gravitymovement of the of result the are which glaciers, These dome. the seeninthenorthwestof saltdomeandareclearly of theplain. plainof the eastern Roadthat theKhormoj isabeautifulsnowy mountainin so area, front beautiful a dome the gives dishes salt the follows:as are of dome color Jaszaksalt white the interestedinscienceGeologyplace for scholars every and climb, visitor to entertain but also the best waterfalls andsaltpotsattract notonlytheeyes of stones, of natural caves andpristinenaturewithinthem, types different geology, the of black andorange.black colors, includered,brown, white, yellow, atae csae ae mn te te tourist other the among are cascades Saltwater phenomena beautiful the among are glaciers Salt the of tourism geological the of features Some Salt Mountainshave beautifulviews Tourism features IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

35 IRAN MIRROR color of the color of the domes industrialsaltsis an thecolor of color of minerals and crystals that are wide in the dome. The eyes every visitor. of metallic and non-metallic glaze, and are stunning to the color, in rich are fluorine, and pyrite as such minerals, between domesalts. columns of form the in rocks of erosion of degree the appearedduetodifferencesin dome erosion which is bed Dave’s caves. the themostbeautifulphenomenainDostbad one of into glimpse a have and salthave becomestellmittious the beautifulcrystalsof thesecaves, of are seeninthedome. Intheinnerparts These caves, caused by salt deposits, the dissolution of springuntilsummerandautumn. in themiddleof thesaltwaterfall.view of This rare phenomenonisseen spectacular a creating waterfalls, the on particular in the stream, and beautiful salt crystals in the direction of the dryseasonsduetofullevaporationwater, of in created been have dome, the of path flow natural 36 The salt dome of the plain hosts a lot of beautiful theplainhostsalotof The saltdomeof saltandmanyBeautiful crystalsof non-silicate The salt caves are another glimpse of the salt dome. IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 SALT DOMES in order to preserve thenatural environment.in ordertopreserve that touristsshouldbewelcomed intheseenvironments because thepioneersNaturalists intheworldbelieve tourismcallednatural tourism, typeof aparticular of spread throughthe resources protectnatural to culture tourism destination in the area by promoting best the environmental the be can management environmental proper a with along tourism for capacity vast its and saltzones. thealluvialdepositsinformof of the plainandconcentration intheroundabout areas seasonal water from these domes and its floodplain on thedomesduetoseasonal the lower of reaches caused by salt domes that occurs in the plains of role inattracting touriststotheprovince. aplaindomethatcanplay an important the featuresof brown, white, yellow, black and orange salts are one of found anywhere in the same province. Varieties red, of be not can that phenomenon surprising and amazing These natural attractions in the mountainous region mountainous the in attractions natural These Playa erosion thebeautifulphenomenaof isoneof on a narrow you corridor which cannot walk through as ceiling a arcade; leafy green a crate and mangroves neighboring the from those with entangle and reach other.each thedesert! Forests inthemiddleof mountains,could seethedesert, andforest allnear mangroves,of reserve is an amazing place where you Iran. coastof natural attractions onthesouthern unique the among are which Island Qeshm of forests erosion andprotect thecoastfromsurges. heavystorm mangroves, through fishingandtourism. other animals. Many communities make their living from and fish for habitat and food provides roots their of structure complex the Also, fish. for ground nursing a thefood webbase of andhaveroles important as the are They functions. socio-economic and ecological sland (Harra Forest) Qeshm Island(Harra The mangrove of forests Mangroves are bulky trees whose tips of branches branches of tips whose trees bulky are Mangroves The Qeshm mangroves, an 8,000-hectare biosphere In the Islamic Republic of Iran, there are the mangrove shoreline against protection offer also Mangroves important fulfill world the around Mangroves MANGROO VE FORESTS The second most prolific tree of the forest is loop-root is forest the of tree prolific most second The Sina). Abu-Ali (or Avicennia scientist, Iranian great the Avicenniaof marina,a species thatwas namedafter forest this home. call that animals the among are pelicans Sea turtles,crabs, shrimp, snakes, herons, cranes, and feed. livestock for leaf-cutting of amount small a and human by threatened are development andclimate change. mangroves world, Qeshm the the around ecosystems mangrove many like efforts, conservation but, both localandinternational the Haraye KhamirProtected Area.Itisprotected by UNESCO’s Hara BiosphereReserve of and and part phenomena; natural rare biosphere reserves grown in the considered Persian lagoons.Gulf’s are Forests MangroveQeshm whyexplains This boat. a bytaking is through pass to way only The water. with filled is it agoe oet o suhr Ia mil consist mainly Iran southern of forests Mangrove boats, tourist fishing, for used mainly is forest This Gulf Persian the in island largest the is Qeshm IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

37 IRAN MIRROR 38 IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 t s lo hsial wne qatr o migratory for birds. quarter winter hospitable eagles, a also is It fish cormorants, herons,spoonbills, pelicans, flamingos, and many tropical birds. seagulls, storks, very slow is andpatientinitsgrowth. tree The germinate. to start seeds the deep, Gulf. thePersian coastof Bandar-Khamir on thenorthern sea, usuallysituatedbetween of Qeshmandtheport water, wherewaves the take of themtoquieterparts the into fall seeds The August. to July mid from fruits usually bearyellow blossomsandsweet almond-shaped Wetlands.Important Internationally This Protected Area is also on the list of plantspecies, itishometoaveryof diverse fauna. is quite homogenous in its composition, with low diversity forming the Harra ecosystem. Although the Harra forest wetland. thisintertidal of grown more or less densely in the wet and muddy areas mangrove haveforeststhat Port),of (Khamir consisting Khuran Straits, between QeshmIslandandmainland of forests mangrove the south-east Asia.Harra Protected Areaislocatedinthe of limits western most the mucronata. as Rhizophora known scientifically mangrove, red or h vs frs i a ae aia fr ges terns, egrets, for habitat safe a is forest vast The Once fixed in the briny sea bed, usually three meters Daily tidal change is the main factor determining in TheHarra forest asitislocallyknown constitutes MANGROO VE FORESTS on Hara birds, in particular, their productivity; the birds heavy metals. These main threats have adverse effects and residues sewagesolid pollution, as and oil resources, such threats anthropogenic invasive species, climate change, and local use of biological natural few a biodiversity inrecentyears. of interms importance Subsequently, its conservation have become of greatest birdareasBytheBirdlifeinternational. theimportant of their potentialtobeanappropriate habitatfor birds. andunique ecosystemsintheworld,dueto important “The Harathe most forests”, areconsideredasoneof on thesurface. waver under the water, some with branches still floating sun. forest,however,the setting of the beauty in culminates beware venomous aquaticsnakes. of Theharmonious in thesun.Travelers arerecommendedto bask to mangroves the of roots spongy the by ashore come fishes creeping green and turtles, Crabs, ground. the than higher are aerial andabletophotosynthesize, their roots water.Being the of out appear beds sludgy the which during hours,seven or six forstays Unfortunately, theseforests are susceptibleto Accordingly, this region has been introduced as one Iran, of coast southern the on forests Mangrove Mangroves have bright green leaves and twigs, and They submerged. are mangroves the tides, high At forest mangrove the tide low the During IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

39 IRAN MIRROR csses hc pt mangrove put forests under pressure. which ecosystems sewage of and waste impacts disposal in negativemarine the reduce to monitoring plans should be prepared plans. local example people in of environmental management participation the forthrough overexploitation; forests and their species from should be raised to protect these are necessary. conservation, management comprehensive strategies For migration. resting seasonal and their nesting during feeding, for region this choose 40 niomna mngmn and management Environmental place,first the awarenessIn public IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 MANGROO VE FORESTS f xlrn a rsie aon of diverse animalspecies. lagoon pristine a exploring of excitement the with along watching but also an experience bird of forests, mangrove rare and the weird visiting of chance exceptional an offer only not does Jungles Hara aka Qeshm of Forests Mangrove to traveling Therefore, dolphins. like of birds like herons andmarineanimals species fifty over hosts This lagoon Lagoon”. “Khurkhoran called lagoon its This of features natural the of trees. root-showing ecosystem is also interesting because the of Forests isnotworthwhilejustbecause u vstn Qsm Mangrove Qeshm visiting But IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

41 IRAN MIRROR play sports, and students make sketches of themanyplay sports,and studentsmake of sketches is mostlyalawn areawherepeople come towalk, kids fromking would a giant watch stand. matches Today it the Square, Imam century. central point in town, used to be a polo field where the 17th the in constructed impressivea large historicalbuildings. numberof the Persiancapital of Empire twice in its history and has and welcoming people onearth. yes! ThelocalsinIran isby far, the friendliest someof you tea.I’llrecommend withsomecups of tosay Also, a big opportunity and chance that locals will treat streets and alleys. They’re interesting sights everywhere. Esfahan. a dream, making a strongarchitecture case for visiting the and endless are sites The exaggeration. an such the world half – and after visiting, it may not seem like locals willtellyou, “Esfahannesf-ejahân”–Esfahanis accents, sing-song delightful their In treasure. national 42 ot f h bget n ms lvs oe where ones lavish most and biggest the of Most Esfahan ismorethan2,500years old.Itwas the Esfahan isaperfectcitytojustwalk around thesmall Thereisareasonwhy EsfahanremainsIran’s IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 ISF AHAN side of MeidanEmam standsSheikhLotfollah Mosque,side of interest. Ontheeastern pointof and are aparticular properties insidethismosquepiquetourists’curiosity acoustic The design. unique a with each domes, tiled lofty, and arcades, symmetrical calligraphy,perfectly the 1,001 Nights unmatched bythe 1,001Nightsunmatched any othercity. the calming sound of babbling water, recreating one of with rewarded dually be you’ll full is River Zâyandeh the when visit to enough lucky you’re If archways. the throughout echo that poetry reciting locals of voices the by graced be to sure are stroll evening an taking Those Khâju. Pol-e stunning, most the and Arches), 33 design-lust their after visiting just two: the longest, Si-o-se satisfy Pol (Bridge of visitors most However, fact. in 11, of total grand a – bridges the are Esfahan in impressive buildingsandmosques. The ImamMosqueis revered for itsIslamic mn te rhtcua msepee t behold to masterpieces architectural the Among Islamic architecture at itsfinest at Islamic architecture It’s bridges acityof in Iran, ispraised for itstwo domesanddetailed brick Mosque, the oldest mosques listedin 2012 and one of PersianUNESCO’sFinally,gardens. Jame’ of umbrella the under it adding space, green well-manicured a in and royal banquets. This Safavid-era pavilionisnestled scenes battle depicting frescos with adorned is pool, wooden columns that double in number in the reflecting monuments. the Elsewhere, ChehelSotoun(“40pillars”),withits20 connecting arcades two-tiered in the stallholders bazaar business-savvy with haggling thissquareand sideof featsoneach architectural the at marveling here day entire an spend easily can century.17th the Travelerswasbyin Abbasbuilt Shah 1979, in Centre HeritageWorld UNESCO a as listed above.patterns and colors of kaleidoscope the contemplate to ground of doing just that, are commonly seen lying down on the your tolookupthanEsfahan.Infact,tourists, neck tired craning constantly youhave will fewerplaces Behesht, and the ceilings Chehel of Sotoun, Ali Qapu, and Hasht VankMosque,Cathedraland Mosque,Jame’ Lotfollah on apinkishhuearound sunset. tiles are a shift from Esfahan’s signature blue, and take cream-colored The dome. off-center imposing, its with Meidan Emam, one of the first sites in Iran tobe in Iran sites first the of one Emam, Meidan ImamMosque, Between thecountlessdomesof Sheikh trio of UNESCOWorld Sites Heritage A trioof Domes andceilings ISF AHAN who seesthem. spent inthismajesticcitywillbecomecleartoanyone souvenirs,yourcolor.time makegreat and items These the Persian word for heaven and refers to its azure after named is glaze, with tiles and metal enameling with fine pieces of wood, bone, and metal. Minâkâri, or marquetry, involvessurfaces of decoratingkhâtamkâri geometric, arabesque, and pre-Islamic. The Persian art floral, including patterns, of using hundreds in come stamps printing handicrafts. textile finest traditional wooden pearwood, stamps.these Usuallymadeof the a of is home Ghalamkâr the naturally, is, are thetypicalsweetscity. of caramels) (coin-shaped poulaki and nougat) (Persian Gaz sugar,zest. saffron,orange and chicken, or lamb yogurt, with made has is and stew) consistency pudding-like (yogurt a mâst Khoresht-e deceiving. bit a sweet is andusuallyeatenasasidedishordessert, other, The flatbread. over slivers almond with served cinnamon andspices, and in asmallpanwithdashof cooked lungs, and mutton minced beryouni, and foremost isthecity’s prideandjoy: specialties notfound anywhere else. First calligraphy. A city concerned withaestheticbeauty,A cityconcerned Esfahan Esfahan isknown local for ahandfulof Foodies willenjoy localdelicacies The center of Persian handicrafts The centerof IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

43 IRAN MIRROR 44 IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 beautiful Masterpieceof Persian Architecture Abbasi House;a Abbasi Abbasi historicalHouse inKashan, Iran AR CHITECTURE B se-dari (3-door)and panjdari(five-door) guestrooms. room’,coverediwanthe hall, (balcony), side alongside ‘mirror the include areas Such guests. received hostess sections: Theouter, innerandattendants’section. seen inIslamicarchitecture! been ever that’s beautiful everything about just and muqarnas, paintings, reliefs, stucco stunning of intricately varieties wall-to-wall Featuring decorations. and designs Persian traditional of example exquisite an quite five is yard-gardens, and stories five in mansion, ‘most Iran’! beautiful residentialbuildinginallof the as recognition for nominee a currently is it that wonder no It’s rivals. for spot tight very a leaves house Abbasi the integrity, architectural and design Iran. traditionalPersianexample inallof of architecture The ‘inner’ section refers to the private living area living private the to refers section ‘inner’ The the host/ The ‘outer’ section refers to areas in which main three into categorized be can House Abbasi Persian gigantic the goingiran.com, to According decoration, of array magnificent a Boasting (Khaneh Abbassian),isthemostdistinguished Kashan, alsoreferred toastheAbbassianHouse uilt duringthe18thcentury, AbbasiHouseof A view from withinaniwan (balcony) insidetheAbbasi House. AR CHITECTURE ucae-emns f h Abs Hue have House Abbasi the of purchased-segments andreconditioned. have beenpurchased massive one being mansion, ithasbeendivided intofive bighomes. than Rather longer residence. no single is a House Abbasi the ownership, of down Qajar Dynasty. in thelate 18th century, the it counts as a product of House tookabout20years tocomplete. Constructed kitchen. the through house main the to leads only section This workers. theAbbasian’s the allof andservice servants for area living was this name, the from guessed have performing for group prayers. area an was which yard’ ‘garden’s can be viewed from oneanother. the house nowhere the inner and outer sections of of hijab, of principles Islamic owner.the Followingthe of olwn is iiin n rnvto, h four the renovation, and division its Following homes five the of out fouryears, recent most the In passing the and owner first the of death the After elegantAbbasi the of construction the that said is It Last butnotleast,theattendants’section.Asyou may the also is sections outer and inner two the Among IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

45 IRAN MIRROR summer andwinterseasons. of rest the the building, to regulate the interior temperature with in the working insulation, of form a acts it dispersed allthroughout theproperty. being pressure water of control better permits planes leveling to be included in architecture. This difference in the water from qanats, itwas for crucial thedifferent garden areasfollows: construction of sunken courtyard. Thereasonsfor this ancientmethod the is mansion the around touring while visitor any of renovated asatraditional Persian yard. 46 Lastly, something you may not have is thought the of Another reasonbehindthesunken courtyard isthat Since thepasttraditional Persian used structures One of the first features that may draw the attention IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 fourth, in essence being a garden, has been has garden, a being essence in fourth, to acovered outdoorcourtyard whilethe with sunken-courtyards.architecture; traditionalthe Kashani Persian styleof undergone somechange. The third, having two-stories, is attached attached is two-stories, having third, The Two themhave beenrenovated of in Gardens and apoolinthecentral yard theAbbasi House. of AR CHITECTURE jaw dropping works of Persianjaw dropping worksof art. themostbeautifuland interior toabsolutelyadorned the leaving yet simple, fairly structure the of exterior house isbuiltinanintroverted style. Thismeansthatthe show theirintricaciesontheoutside, alotof theAbbasi will you home, thehalves areexactly of the identical! realize thateach of center the through going line youperfectly symmetrical. If were to picture a vertical bewildering has truly features. architecture on a playground.no child’s plan floor 7,000-square-meter property, 5,000-square-meter the Abbassian’s house is a Having just boastitslooks, butalsoitsmassive size. dug-out materialsintobuildingbricks! the converted that House Abbasi the of site building the at constructed were ovens brick digging, the with concurrently Indeed, rocks. and soil dug-out the of use Contrary to contemporary styles of architecture, that Contrary to contemporary styles of is mansion ginormous this of building entire The Persian traditional of specimen magnificent The the Abbasians doesn’tThe beautiful Home of hijab). wearing without other each seeing women inIslam areforbidden from already know, unrelated men and the menandwomen. (Asyou may in ordertosecuretheprivacy of elegant space divisions are of made property hasbeenaccountedfor. the of inch single every and areas and design of the rooms, halls, prayer hijab.considerations Thelayout of this residentialpalace is itsIslamic aig o osdr hs very this consider to Having structure, the of segment every In of feature interesting last The AR CHITECTURE most beautiful placesin Iran! the location. Nodoubt this isoneof to see atthis just somuch there is wells water underground two catchers) and (wind badgirs beautiful With anadditionaltwoartwork. Persian and and Islamic architecture phenomenaltraditional collection of and visitors residents. the within accommodating rooms with rooms, perfectlyandcomfortably space living divided flowing, yet very a created has fundamental need,thearchitect The Abbasi House is such a dense The Abbasi House issuch IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

47 IRAN MIRROR 48 Ancient Mosques Iran’s The Beautyof IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 ANCIENT MOSQUES Goharshad Mosque their beautyandhistory. up soaking abroad, from visitors with teem mosques West,the Iran’sin great propagandaIslam against of barrage the despite paradoxthat a of something is It vaulted ceilings. and frescoes stunning designs, geometric neck-craning domes, huge tiles, intricate minarets, soaring columns, immense of arrangement the through faith powerful a to homage pays architecture distinctive their nation, theIslamic Besides theirprimaryrole inthedailylifeof Iran. aspect of anindelible worshipthat makes such theplacesof footprint religious and cultural the of example striking soft pinkrose tilesover walls, itsinternal andisa is filled cameras. of by theclicking hour, atthisearly kaleidoscopic mix,andthehall,chilly the base of thick stone columns. Visitors are bathed in a and pale green light on the carpeted floor and around glass windows. colored through light throws and hall prayer a over mosques in Shiraz is early morning. The rising sun creeps They embrace thefaithfulandreward thecurious. Mosques can be found in every village, town and city. features also Mosque ol-Molk Nassir charming The A soft, fractured glow fills the room, casting red, blue the mostbeautiful The besttimetoseeoneof ANCIENT MOSQUES eoe h msu ufls t 5 ere t align to degrees with Mecca.Two loftyminaretscovered inturquoise 45 at unfolds mosque the before throughdrawsvisitors Mosque silver Imam great doors the unwary. warn to horns air sounding and buggies in rides brief on families taking stones, cobbled along trot still wealthy.Horses the of enjoyment the for games polo justice. it do to evening an and day a half least at needs — square — the world’s second-biggest behind Tiananmen andthe surprises. Thevisitorisspoiledforof choice Square hosts two mosques, a palace and a bazar full algebra,of mathandgeometry. a pleasure. The designers had a such deep knowledge makes avisit thatareclosetoperfect,which construction proportionsinits achieved found thatitsarchitects inthe10thcentury.started have Scholars known, also is it as Mosque, Friday stunning the on Work Isfahan. in gem UNESCO-listed power canberevealed by atutoredeye. mosques, because theirsecretsandphysical At the southern end of thesquare, endof theexquisiteAt thesouthern hosted square the ground, parade royal a Once Away Isfahan,thevast Imam fromof the olderpart a Mosque, Jame’ majestic the Take the through guided be to greatly helps It IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Grand mosque, Isfahan

49 IRAN MIRROR 50 IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Naser Molk Mosque, Shiraz ANCIENT MOSQUES hrhs pag p n h dsrc. n o te finest the of One district. the in up sprang churches and halls prayer dozen Two freedom. religious given and Abbas Shah ruler Persian the by ago years 500 neighborhood the in wasresettled rule, Ottoman cruel under community, The detour.rewarding a is quarter straightforward and fair. are purchases but selling hard of bit a be will There out. seeking are worth carpets silk flush, you’refeeling Camel-bone trinket boxes costjustafew dollarsbut has beautifultilesandceramics. to Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque. The 500-year-old building said to make theirway 150metersacross thesquare sounds. make musicians the purest plasterwork helped court intricate with rooms Music ceiling. the in friezes plaster five has Palace Qapu Ali largepink balconya with and doors decorated highly side. either on off face 25metersaway.can hear paperbeingtorn while theinnerdomebearsweight. that allows the outer dome to achieve a pleasing shape The prayer hall features a double dome, a design trick power asemblemsof mosaic tilesserve andbeauty. from created peacocks where entrance the flank tiles Not farfrom ImamSquare, theoldArmenian bazar. the for head out, mosqued get you If From thepalace, women from theroyal haremwere mosque a and Halfwaysquare,palace the a along The acoustics are astonishing: if it is not too noisy you ANCIENT MOSQUES Dome of Jame MosqueYazdDome of figure. The crowd was good-natured and one ofthe religious one and a good-natured was of crowd The figure. birthday the learned, I celebrating, tent, waiting patiently for sweetened drinks. They were big a at up lined were men of queue long eye.A my flood. of times in flow water regulate to slats wooden held but you can make out grooves in the foundations, which sing Iranian tunes, which echo beneath the stone arches. groups and feasts evening for gather families where protect to ago camel trains from beingbuffetedby winds. years corridors 500 builders covered its with by long designed meters 300 is arches) translates inPersian as 33andreferstoitsidentical (which Bridge Si-o-se-Pol The beauty. gorgeous their of their design symmetry is best seen at The night, when lighting captures tonic. a provide Zayandeh-Rud of river the acrossbridges famous episode,the unsettling cease. must Armenians of the torture published inIsfahan,royal that decrees withinstructions books theearliest Its collectionincludessomeof mastershangfrom walls.Italian andDutch depicting Old and New Testament frescoes stories in the style stunning of Inside, Cathedral. Vank as survives A large gathering at the end of one bridge caught bridge one of end the at gatheringlarge A bridges,the crossed I when Zayandeh-Rudwasdry Bridge, Khaju magnificent equally the is east little A youIf need a breather after exposure to that must-see. a groundsis church the in museum small A IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

51 IRAN MIRROR demands. And there we were, standing on a bank of bank a on standing were, we there And demands. for challenging perspective, women. But Westernthere was also a immediate generosity without from and, tied fiercely to their is faith, which at once conservative 52 The setting captured the Iran I encountered. A people IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 a differententrance tocollecttheirdrinks. wasusing women,it time This queue. another smaller groups sangwithgusto. and loudspeakersfrom blared Music origins. and tumbler filled a us our about curious was tray,handed a with approached organizers We circledthetent and bumpedinto ANCIENT MOSQUES Vakil Mosque, Shiraz Ade Soe s nw eio fr e Zealand New for Herald. editor news a is Stone Andrew * years. of hundreds for flowed had humanity where history, The story alsoappearedinIranDAILYThe story T of thesehydraulicof functionsarestill in use. fish for facilities farming, river transport, and the providedcity’s defence. Several and zones, farming vast water irrigatedmills, of series city,a providedthe operated to supply centuries many for which surviving, intake stillinuse. water dam a from starting canal, Gargar the other, the and ruins, in now bridge-dam, monumental a from canals on the river Kârun: one, the Dâriun canal, starting Darius theGreatin5thcenturyB.C. to back traced be genius,creativecan of masterpiece The ShushtarHistorical Hydraulic System (HH) river,artificial veritable still a is canal Gargar The It involved two main water the creation of diversion Shushtar, HistoricalHydraulic System,inscribedasa hydraulic system;a technological dates back to ancient times, finding its roots in roots its Mesopotamian andElamiteknowhow. finding times, ancient to back dates he Shushtarmultifunctionalhydraulicsystem The Shushtarmultifunctional HYDRA wizardry wizardry ULIC SYSTEM weir-dam raised andstabilised thewater which level involved controlling the project powerful river Kârun initial with the Shâdorvân The irrigation. for function its it was rebuilt partially in the 20th century to maintain theolderDâriunsystemareleft,but only remainsof navigation. inthetown’s theditches the role of defencesystem,and irrigated agriculture, fish farming, from water mills, town centuries water supply, many for community human bases for a theeconomicandsocialdevelopment of established inancienttimes. Itprovided thematerial system water global a of design the on based works, and ensemble. rock, the into dug numerous water formaperfectlycoherent uses, are which which of some canals, structures, control flow of ensemble vast a comprises h Gra cnl yrui sse i sil n use; in still is system hydraulic canal Gargar The engineering civil major required installation Its IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

53 IRAN MIRROR Paradise’), covers approximately which 40,000ha. calledtheMianâb (literally ‘The farmland and fertile orchards of planting the enabled water its millennia city, themountains, atthefoot wherefor of almosttwo the downstream basin. and thewaterspectacular cliff fallsincascadesinto mills and supply water to the city. The site forms a downstream tunnelsthatoperate viaaseriesof Shushtar.bank adjacent tothecityof rocky the crosses first canal Gargar The Shoteit. river the become to name its changes weir-dam the below from River, themainKârun which themainsectionof 54 Shushtar isacityinKhuzestanprovince, southwest the of south plain the enters then Gargarcanal The itcontinues dam, control flow further a After The Gargar forms a veritable artificial river, diverted IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 Kârun. Kârun. intake attheexit from abend intheriver the monumental Mizân waterthe control of under canal, Gargar the to and tunnels, via theriver’s of waterpart totheDâriuncanal by forminganimpounding reservoir. It wasIt significant a divert to possible then HYDRA ULIC SYSTEM the city, withbridges, dams, watermills… channels, throughout the spreads that engineering: System, Hydraulic ancient Historical of masterpiece a unique, truly something offers river, Karun the on positioned entire hydraulic system. including the Salâsel Castel, the operation centre of the creative genius.”a masterpieceof a as List “as to referred 2009, UNESCO’sin heritage culturalsite tangible in registered been has system to the historical hydraulic system located there. This itsfame Khuzestan province. of Shushtarowes much from SassanidtoPahlavi, thiscitywas thecapitalof Ahvaz. Inmosthistoricalperiods of about 90kmnorth Mountains, Zagros of foot the at situated It’s Iran. of and a plaster of limeandmortar.and a plasterof constructional materials The used in this centuries. complex have been after mainly granite even working still other nearby cities. Parts thishydraulic of systemare Shushtarandevenbetween some differentareasof to share the watertechniques provided by Karun The strategically Shushtar, of oasis historical The sites remarkable The property hasanensembleof Sassanids used the ancient water treatment ytm dsge goal ad opee i the in completed and civil initsdiversity of 3rd century CE.Itisasrich globally designed system, irrigation techniques. eventually was system the scrapped, as itsuseswere replacedwith more modern of be can use slippage Active of bit forgiven. a old, centuries was it that considering But toll. their erosiontook and beforetime it did as efficiently as not probably albeit Shushtar, to power providing century, 20th the into use in was system wizardry,amazing.The seems still todayit and technological like seemed have must mills and tubes, At the time of its building the elaborate system of dams, Shushtar,diverted to the city of powering several mills. inIran. structure rebuilt bridge-dam been combined first the has been It’s restored. and it of 50% about and long, m 500 remained intactuptothepresent.It’s approximately have floodgates these of 37 floodgates. Only 44 with Shushtarhistoricalhydraulic of core structure system h Suha sse i a ooeeu hydraulic homogeneous a is system Shushtar The is water pools, and tunnels of system the Through the been it’s period, Sassanid the to back Dating Diagram of theHistoricalhydraulicDiagram of system;acombinedBridge-Dam tothe5thcenturyB.C thatdatesback HYDRA ULIC SYSTEM industrial sitethatisworth avisit. you Iran, it’s Should in the rare soon. ever find yourself anytimecommission site, won’tit of hopefully out so go vast plain,atthetimesemi-desert. a of irrigation the and town new a of construction the possible made which watercourse artificial a veritable is canal Gargar The civilisation. their of peak the only by thePersians butalsoby theArab-Muslims at has beenconsideredaWonder theWorld of not Grand the WeirShâdorvân particularly (bridge-dam), Shushtar hydraulic system, in its ensemble and most The engineering. civil Roman by Petra and tunnel the and dam by influenced probably was it knowhow; heritage ElamiteandMesopotamian the earlier and thesynthesisof to testifies System Hydraulic Historical river anddefensive transport, system).TheShushtar the in diversity of its uses as (urban water constructions supply, mills, its irrigation, and structures engineering UNESCO has declared the system a world heritageworld a system the declared has UNESCO IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

55 IRAN MIRROR 56 IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 The ‘Persian four prominent Persian Scholars Pavilion’ of features thestatues figures placedintheCentral Persian Scholars Headquaters in Headquaters Pavillion UN at Memorial Plaza of the Vienna International Center(UNHeadquaters). theVienna International Memorial Plaza of Vienna persian sculptue T rotates. He is also known as the first Muslim scholar to scholar Muslim first the as known also is He rotates. He is believed to be the first person who said the Earth astronomy,as such chemistry, fields geography geology.and various in worked Indology, of founder the as Khayyam. Omar and (Rhazes) RaziZakariya RayhanBiruni, Abu renownedthe statuesof Iranian scientistsAvicenna, withPersianpavilion isadorned formsandincludes art four prominentfeatures thestatuesof Persian figures. Center.International The‘Persian Pavilion’ Scholars Vienna the of Plaza Memorial central the in placed is which ) Vienna at Office Nations United (The UNOV they art. leftbehindaswell astheworks of books the through them know to come has world The development. scientific to contributions major their for eminent scholars in different fields of science, renowned art. skills of famous Iranian poetholdingpenand paper. Omar IbnIbrahim Khayyam Neyshabouri isthe Abu Rayhan Birouni (973-1048), considered by some the features, architectural Persian Highlighting to pavilion scholar a donated Iran 2009, June In Iran is also replete with names of The history of who showed totheworldinvarious who theway only.” Over thepastcenturies, thePersians itwas here isanoldfamous saying, “Art restswithIranians persian sculptue sheets of paper.sheets of a laboratory tube, Abu Rayhan a globe and Khayyam, a pencil and Rhazes abook, holds Avicenna their fields. to related object symbolic a holding each with through Edward Fitzgerald’s 1859translation. OmarKhayyam’.of ‘Rubaiyat’ isknown intheWest quatrains (four-linecollection of poems)‘TheRubaiyat astronomer andmathematicianisbestknown for his Healing’. encyclopedic workcalled‘TheBookof immense an is opus Khayyam.magnum Omar His poet the renowned including figures scientific and literary many influenced who medicine, modern of father the as smallpox andchickenpox. also written numerous notes on diseases such the for recognized alcoholandsulfuricacid.Hehas discovery of widely is (865-925) physician, philosopherandscholar, Rhazes study IndiaandtheBrahminical tradition. holding hisbooks. The greatIranian physician IbnSina(Avicenna) his The sculptures, allonahuman-sizescale, areseated Omar Khayyam (1048-1123),eminentPersian poet, and polymath Persian a was (980-1037) Avicenna Known chemist, asaprominent alchemist, IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

57 IRAN MIRROR Persepolis. OmarKhayyam, Itishometothestatuesof from rocks using built been has which ornaments and arch. each underneath afamousIranian personality with thestatueof quadrangle a as constructed is Persian.It in chartaghi the pastcenturies. Thisfour-centered iscalled arch over scientists Iranian of achievements magnificent the commemorate to erected been has edifice an Vienna, n t isal sal pnn i is eln t allow to ceiling sunlight tolightitup. its in opening small a install to and directions), geographical four the for famous symbol most Iranian (the cross a as chartaghi the design to Iranians inspired south, the in noon at position highest west andthemomentwhensunisatitszenith, below inthecenter. Sunrise, intheeast,sunset that stand on four pillars. A water basin is installed right role uptothepresenttime. Zoroastrian in position temples ithasmaintaineditsprominent architectural spiritual its of because and Persianand is themostfamouselementof architecture, 58 ranian scientistsoutsidetheUN Iranian of The chartaghi shown holdingaglobe. Heis omer whodiscovered theearth. the rotation of Abu Raihan was Mohammad Biruni a famous astron- This is a combination of Achaemenid architecture architecture Achaemenid This is a combination of in entrance UN main the of side right-hand the To A chartaghi consists a A of shelter chartaghi made fourof vaults Persian in ‘chartaghi’ called is structure whole The IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018 roofing the four scholars. isplacedonthefour pillars,Iran. Anarch era andfound inPersepolis,Achaemenid after traditional the Persian of architecture and the pillars surrounding them are designed The stone sculptures are two-meters high two-meters are sculptures stone The

Traditional Arch

persian sculptue their knowledge in all four directions to the entire world. theIranian scientificfiguresispresented. of (a sun with 12 sun rays). one In the arch of each glories decorationsicon sun with ornamented is facade ceiling direction. The with 14 battlements decorated in each ceiling ziggurat the supports which capital bull-guard symbol. stones. It represents anIranian national andritualistic are 2.2m x 2.2m x 3m, and is made of stones and fiber Its dimensions has been built on the same characteristics. intheIslamicperiodaswell.their importance oflight. the triumph These ancientPersianin ritualisticconceptsmaintained ended finally and that light darkness of struggle the resembled it center: the in was the reflection sunlight of in the water basin located also showing theirbirthdays inPersian andEnglish. one each the scientistwithanameplaqueatfoot of them totheworld. and science and a message of peace and happiness by knowledgeto Iran bymade of contribution people the by the commemorate (VIC) to is This Centre officials. UN ranking International high Vienna the at 2009 asignof June 9 as on unveiled was It progress. scientific Vienna peaceful in UNoffices the to edifice the and Razi, Avicenna. Mohammad-Zakaria Biruni, Abu-Raihan chemist chemist and famous discoverer of alcohol, is the seen holding a Razi,jar. Zakaria bin Muhammad Bakr Abu Indeed, these four great Iranian scientists dispersed scientists Iranianfour great these Indeed, pillarcomprisesapedestal,and Each Given the cultural background, the ‘Scholars Pavilion’ watch to everybodywished that moment thrilling A statuehasbeenmadetoportray theskillsof Each Iranianpresented the government 2009, June 5 On ATTRACTIONS TEHRAN ATTRACTIONS TEHRAN IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018

59 IRAN MIRROR 60 IRAN MIRROR IRAN MIRROR DECEMBER 2018