Namakdan Cave

Namakdan Cave is located in Hormozgan Province, in the southwest of Qeshm Island, and is known as one of the longest salt caves in the world. This natural cave, formed in the heights of the Qeshm salt dome, is about 6.4 kilometres long and displays a unique geological spectacle with its salt columns, sparkling crystals and translucent stalactites. Namakdan Cave was discovered in 1998 (1377 in the Solar Hijri calendar) by a team of geologists from the Czech Republic and Shiraz University. In local usage the cave is also known as Namakdun Cave or Kani Cave, because Kani Village lies near it, within the Namakdan Geosite area.

Namakdan Cave is registered as a geosite in the Qeshm Geopark, and UNESCO has also declared its support for it. Earlier, in 1390 (Solar Hijri), the cave was inscribed on Iran's National Heritage list as a natural monument under number 173. Inside the Namakdan salt dome on Qeshm there are various passages, some of which reach a height of 20 metres. Some of these passages are used for tourism, while others serve as salt mines. The salt deposits of this cave date back to a very ancient period, even before the Cambrian, and are more than 500 million years old. The vegetation around the cave consists mostly of salt-tolerant and drought-resistant plants, and some small animals native to the deserts and southern coasts of Iran can be seen in the area. Inside the cave the air is naturally cool and humid, and the salt crystals are constantly changing and growing. A stream of salty water flows out of the cave towards the coast, completing the natural beauty of the area. This natural phenomenon is highly appealing not only to geologists and researchers but also to ordinary tourists.

There are several ways to reach Namakdan Cave from different routes on Qeshm Island. One route is to head towards the villages of Chahu and Derku and then continue towards Guri Village. From there, continue towards Kani Village and take the 10-kilometre dirt road that leads to the cave. The best time to visit Namakdan Cave is autumn and winter, when the weather on Qeshm Island is mild and pleasant and the dirt roads around the cave are easier and safer to travel. In the hot months of the year, especially summer, walking around this area is not recommended because of the intense heat and gruelling weather conditions. Visiting the cave with local tours or professional guides is safer, because there is complete darkness deep inside the cave and its passages can be confusing for those unfamiliar with them.