Alvand Protected Area

Alvand Protected Area is one of the pristine and beautiful areas of Khomeyn County in Markazi Province, and its scenery captivates every visitor. The area has a mountain climate with different altitude zones, high mountains and rolling hills, and numerous valleys, and it holds a special place in terms of biodiversity. The area takes its name from the mountain of the same name, Alvand, which lies in the west of Khomeyn County in the south of Markazi Province. Its highest point stands at 3,096 meters above sea level, and thanks to its particular natural conditions and varying physical factors, the area offers beautiful and varied landscapes. Its biodiversity is not repeated anywhere else in the southern parts of Markazi Province, and in climatic terms the area has a cold semi-arid climate.

The Alvand area was designated a no-hunting area in Dey 1380 (January 2002), and was then declared a protected area in Khordad 1381 (June 2002) under a resolution of Iran's Supreme Council for Environmental Protection. The area is home to more than 60 bird species (19 of which are protected and vulnerable), which represent 12 percent of Iran's birds and 44 percent of the birds of Markazi Province. More than 30 percent of the birds in the area are protected birds of prey.

Alvand Protected Area is also rich in mammals, holding 8.8 percent of the country's mammals; of its 11 mammal species, 3 are protected. The presence of major mammals such as wild goat and ibex, wild sheep (mouflon) and wolf shows the importance of this area. The area is also of greater value than its neighboring regions in terms of plant diversity, and some plants such as mountain cumin, wild fig, borage, saffron, chamomile, hills' flower, cornflower, scorpion flower and carnation are found here in abundance. In Farvardin and Ordibehesht (April and May), Alvand Protected Area is the home of the crown imperial (a rare plant in Iran), and in these two months the area paints a paradise that captivates every beholder.