Qezel Ozan River

The Qezel Ozan River, one of the longest and most water-rich rivers in Iran, rises in the Chehel Cheshmeh highlands in Divandarreh County, Kurdistan Province. It flows through the provinces of Kurdistan, Zanjan, East Azerbaijan, Ardabil and Gilan, and empties into the Caspian Sea near Hasan Keyadeh. The river is about 500 kilometres long, and more than half of its course lies in Zanjan Province. Along the way, Qezel Ozan receives water from tributaries such as the Zanjanrud, Abhar Chay, Hashtrud and Khalkhal Chay, and joins the Sefidrud River. It merges with the Zanjanrud near Qaflankuh and finally flows into the Sefidrud Dam in Gilan Province.

Flowing through deep mountain valleys, the Qezel Ozan River has created exceptional natural scenery. Its banks are covered with diverse vegetation, including oak, beech, hazelnut and walnut trees, along with maple (kikam), sumac, barberry, wild pomegranate, wild apple and wild pear trees, and bushes of blackberry and cornelian cherry. The river is important not only environmentally but also as one of the main sources of agricultural and drinking water in the areas it passes through. The Sefidrud Dam on the river plays an important role in managing water resources and generating hydroelectric power.

To reach the Qezel Ozan River from Tehran, you can travel to Zanjan by private car or bus, and from there take the side roads leading to the river. The distance from Tehran to the Qezel Ozan River is about 436 kilometres, which takes around 4 hours 30 minutes by private car. The best time to visit the river is spring and summer, when the weather is mild and the natural scenery is at its most beautiful. In these seasons, the vegetation and pastures around the river are lush and pleasant. When visiting the Qezel Ozan River responsibly, we recommend that you do not leave any litter along the riverbank, do not damage the surrounding plants and trees, avoid steep and dangerous paths, and respect the natural flow of the water so that the river's ecosystem is preserved.