Ice Caves in Iran

Abstract

Physically, Iran is best known for its warm-to-hot, semiarid to arid climatic conditions. In the north (Alborz Mountains) and west (Zagros Mountains) it has mountain ranges rising to 3500-4500. m. a.s.l., however, which supported major alpine glaciers during the Quaternary Ice Ages and maintain a few much smaller ones today. Scientific investigation of caves in the mountains is in its early stages. Two examples with perennial ice have received preliminary study; (1) Yakh-Morad Ice, at 2490. m above sea level in the Alborz, has perennial ice from seepage entering a lower level cold trap and retains seasonal ice into Aug. in warmer upper levels; it is believed that a net loss of the perennial ice is occurring. Dena Ice Cave, at 3900. m. a.s.l. in the Zagros, is a single descending passage with large ice stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones from seepage. The cave may be experiencing net accumulation of ice today. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.