Arghavan Gorge is one of the most beautiful and unique geological phenomena close to the city of Ilam. It is located along the path to a gorge named Ghuchali, and covers a land as big as one hundred and seventy hectares. The reason for the naming of this natural formation as Arghavan, literally meaning Judas tree, is the existence of many trees of this plant along the riverside. In the past, Arghavan Gorge was known as Gavaz. Today, known as Arghavan, it is a tourism destination for local people of Ilam, as well as foreigner tourists. This gorge is a very suitable location for growing kinds of plants and trees that are resistant to cold weather such as Oak, Hawthorn and Keikom, a kind of maple. It is due to this vegetation that beekeeping is prosperous and high-quality honey is produced in this area. The height of the shrubs that grow in Arghavan Gorge can reach twelve meters. During Farvardin and Ordibehest (about March, April and May), the gorge completely turns rich purple and creates a visionary scene in front of the visitors. Even though Ilam County is considered the original birthplace of Judas tree, other plants such as oak are found in forms of dense forests (Source: VisitIran).
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Ecotourism Destinations in Iran: Uraman Takht Village, Marivan, Kurdistan
