Berenjeh Prison

Berenjeh Prison is a mysterious natural attraction near the village of Berenjeh. Its name is tied to many stories and legends that locals have passed down from generation to generation. This enigmatic pit lies north of Takab County, south of Berenjeh village, on the slopes of a mountain known as Tavileh Soleyman (Solomon's Stable). In this area, beside a roaring river, you can see several dried-up travertine springs. The most famous of them is the Berenjeh Prison, or Berenjeh Pit, which draws many adventurous travellers to see it. In 2015 (1394 SH), the Berenjeh Prison, or Pit, was registered as No. 295 on Iran's National Natural Heritage list.

This site is a deep, elongated pit with an oval opening. It is 70 metres deep, and the opening is 100 metres across at its widest point and 50 metres at its narrowest. You can only get down to the bottom if you are able to rock climb, because there is no other way down. At the bottom of this huge natural structure lies a lake filled with cold water and carbon dioxide gas. Because of the great depth, it is impossible to reach the water's surface from the opening. The spring has a tall, steep wall formed from thin layers of banded travertine. After passing through the rocks, the lake's water flows to the southeast into the neighbouring river in Berenjeh village.

In the past, local khans punished villagers or their enemies by tying a stone to their feet and throwing them into this deep pit, which is how it got its name. A person thrown into the pit would die even if they survived the fall, because they could not climb out and had no way to escape. When you reach the village of Berenjeh, you need to walk a short distance to see the prison, so bring suitable shoes and essential equipment. Note that there is no fencing around this natural feature, so you must follow safety precautions when approaching the edge of the opening. This is especially important if you have children with you, and you need to watch them very closely.