Shahankuh

Shahankuh is a mountain which is located about 20 kilometres southwest of the city of Fereydunshahr in the western part of Isfahan Province in Iran.[1] With an elevation of 4040 metres, the Shahankuh is the highest mountain in Isfahan Province. Situated in the Zagros Mountains and stretched in a general northwest-southeast direction and almost parallel to other Zagros mountains, the Shahankuh has an average width of about 3 kilometres and a length of almost 20 kilometres.

Etymology

"Shahankuh" is made up of two words, “shahan” and “kuh”. “Shahan” means “kings” and is formed by “shah” meaning “king” and the plural suffix “an”, and “kuh” means “mountain”. Therefore, "Shahankuh" means the “kings’ mountain" in Persian. Because the Shahankuh is a high mountain, it is considered to be a lofty place befitting or belonging to kings.

Geology

Located in the Sanandaj-Sirjan geologic and structural zone of Iran, the Shahankuh is mainly made of Cretaceous limestones.[2]

Climatology

Being a high mountain, the Shahankuh has a cold mountainous climate with cold winters and cool summers. The average annual temperature is 5 - 10 °C and the average annual precipitation is between 800 and more than 1000 millimetres.

Plant and animal life

Rhubarb, goat’s thorn, mountain pistachio, and wild plants are among the various forms of the mountain’s vegetation. Animals include grey wolves, boars, hyenas, mountain goats, squirrels, wild cats, brown bears, and foxes. Quails, owls, and eagles are among different birds found in the vicinity of this mountain.

References
  1. Comprehensive Map of Iran, Microsoft Encarta Interactive World Atlas 2001, Microsoft Corporation
  2. Geological Map of Iran, National Geoscience Database of Iran, www.ngdir.ir

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