Arasbaran Forest includes a vast green area extended from Ahar City to Aras River. Having lots of rich environmental and natural sources, this forests have been inscribed on UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, as one of the biosphere reserves of Iran. Many historic documents have confirmed the existence of such region in the southern margin of Aras River. For example, Ebn Howqal, the 4th century AH geographer, has mentioned to the name of these forests in his book, Masalek ol-Mamalek; he has also referred that one generation of Turk people live here. Moreover, Yaqut al-Homawi has also called these forests Baz in his introduction on the character of Babak Khorramdin. Arasbaran has played a vital role especially in political equations. Abbas Mirza, the regent of Qajars, who chose Ahar as the battlefield for confronting Russian forces, was extremely supported by Arasbaran nomads. They have also played an important role in constitutional movement. Sattar khan, one of the leaders in constitutional movement, known also as National Commander (Sardar-e Melli), was also from this region. Today, Arasbaran region is restricted to Tabriz and Marand, from the west, to Meshkin Shahr and Muqan, from east and to Sarab, from South. UNESCO inscribed more than 72000hectares of the region’s grounds as the biosphere reserve. Being included a wild texture and the existence of different plant and animal species in the neighborhood of the border line between Iran, Azerbaijan and Armenia, was of the main causes of UNESCO experts’ paying attention to Arasbaran (Source: VisitIran).
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Ecotourism Destinations in Iran: Urmia Lake, West Azerbaijan
