Shirkuh Mountain

🧭What kind of place is it?

Shirkuh is part of Iran's central mountain range. Its slopes are divided into three zones, Pishkuh, Miyankuh and Poshtkuh, and villages such as Deh Bala, Tezerjan and Manshad lie in the Miyankuh. The mountain's snow is also a water source for villages around Taft and Mehriz.

👀What you will see

• The summit can be seen from Yazd and in winter is cold and covered in snow.
• Deh Bala, at about 2,600 metres, is one of the villages on the main climbing route.
• The Najib valley on the drainage route is a long, steep gorge and counts as the hard part of the climb.
• In parts of the mountain, granite pushes out from under the limestone layers and can be seen on the surface.
• On top of the granite lie Cretaceous limestone and dolomite layers, some of them worn away by erosion.

💡Something interesting

The name Shirkuh, Lion Mountain, is said to come from the way the mountain looks like a sleeping lion from a distance. When you look at its outline from far away, you can judge the likeness for yourself.

🎒Good to know before you go

• If you are aiming for the summit, be ready for a long mountain climb with steep sections; the Najib valley route is hard going.