The Ali-Sadr Cave ( fa, غار علی‌صدر), originally called Ali Saadr or Ali Sard (meaning cold), is the world's largest water cave which attracts thousands of visitors every year. It is located in Ali Sadr

Kabudarahang County Kabudarahang County ( fa, شهرستان کبودراهنگ) is located in Hamadan province, Iran. The capital of the county is Kabudarahang Kabūdrāhang ( fa, کبودراهنگ, also Romanized as Kabūd Rāhang, Kabood Rahang, and Kabūd R� ...

about 100 kilometers north of

Hamadan Hamadan () or Hamedan ( fa, همدان, ''Hamedān'') ( Old Persian: Haŋgmetana, Ecbatana) is the capital city of Hamadan Province of Iran. At the 2019 census, its population was 783,300 in 230,775 families. The majority of people living in Ha ...

, western

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

(more accurately at 48°18'E 35°18'N). Because of the cave's proximity to large cities such as

, it is a highly recommended destination for tourists from all corners of the world. Tours of the cave are available by

pedalo A pedalo (British English) or paddle boat (U.S., Canadian, and Australian English) is a human-powered watercraft propelled by the action of pedals turning a paddle wheel. Description A pedalo is a human-powered watercraft propelled by the ...

s. The Ali-Sadr cave was rediscovered by a shepherd from Ali-Sadr village in which the cave is located. ALI SADR CAVE DISCOVERS

Description

Ali-Sadr is the world's largest water cave, where you sit in a boat and watch the view. This cave is located at 48°18'E 35°18'N, in the southern part of Ali Sadr village. The cave is entered at the side of a hill called

Sari Ghiyeh A sari (sometimes also saree or shari)The name of the garment in various regional languages include: * as, শাৰী, xārī, translit-std=ISO * bn, শাড়ি, śāṛi, translit-std=ISO * gu, સાડી, sāḍī, translit-std= ...

which also includes two other caves called Sarab and

Soubashi The ''soubashi'' ( tr, subaşı, sq, subash, sh, subaša) was an Ottoman gubernatorial title used to describe different positions within Ottoman hierarchy, depending on the context. This title was given to Ottoman timar holders who generated more ...

, each 7 and 11 kilometers from Ali-Sadr Cave. Apparently, the water in Ali-Sadr cave stems from a spring in Sarab. In the summer of 2001, a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

expedition surveyed the cave, finding to be 11 kilometers long. The main chamber of the cave is 100 meters by 50 meters and 40 meters high. The cave walls can extend up to 40 meters high, and it contains several large, deep

lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...

s. The cave has a river flowing through it and most travel through the cave system is done by boat. More than 11 kilometers of the cave's water canals have been discovered so far. Some routes are 10 to 11 kilometers long and all lead to "The Island", a centrally located large atrium.

Early occupation

Excavations and archeological studies of the cave have led to the discovery of ancient artworks, jugs and pitchers dating back to 12,000 years ago. Animals, hunting scenes and bows and arrows are depicted on the walls and passages of the exit section. These images suggest primitive man used the cave as their abode. The cave was known during the reign of

Darius I Darius I ( peo, 𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁 ; grc-gre, Δαρεῖος ; – 486 BCE), commonly known as Darius the Great, was a Persian ruler who served as the third King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, reigning from 522 BCE until his ...

(521-485 BC) which can be verified by an old inscription at the entrance of the tunnel. However, the knowledge of the existence of the cave was lost and it was only rediscovered in 1963 by Iranian mountaineers.

Gallery

Alisadr Cave, Hamedan, Iran.JPG, Ali Sadr Cave, Hamadan Province, Iran,siamak sabet2.jpg, Ali Sadr Cave, Hamadan Province, Iran,siamak sabet.jpg, Ali-Sadr Cave.jpg,

References

External links

Ghar Ali Sadr

Das Iran Projekt "Ghar Alisadr"

List of caves in Iran
in Persian
Alisadr Tourism Co. (The Official Website of Alisadr Cave)
{{Coord, 35, 18, N, 48, 18, E, type:airport_source:kolossus-eswiki, display=title Caves of Iran Show caves in Iran Landforms of Hamadan Province Tourist attractions in Hamadan Province Archaeological sites in Iran

Description

Early occupation

Gallery

See also

References

External links