One of the most amazing natural phenomena of Bushehr province is Jashak Salt Dome. This unique attraction is located in Jashak Mountain and includes salt caves, salt waterfalls, salt springs, elf chimneys and other natural structures, each of which has its own charm. Also, the Jashak salt dome is considered as the largest and most beautiful salt dome in Iran and is also known in the Middle East.
Jashak Salt Dome, which is also known as Jashak Salt Mountain and Dashti Salt Dome, is a large and high area in Jashak Mountain. This dome is one of the largest, most active and most beautiful salt domes in Iran and the Middle East, and it was registered as the only national natural monument of Bushehr province.
With beautiful geological landscapes, different types of rocks, natural caves and pristine nature inside them, mountain waterfalls and salt hangings, Salt Mountain not only pleases the eyes of every viewer, but is also the best place for researchers interested in geology. The white color of Gonbad table salt has given a beautiful appearance to the area, as it appears from Khormouj Dir road as a beautiful snow mountain in the eastern part of the bare plain.
Jashak salt dome is one of the sightseeing places of Bushehr and it is located in Kaki and Bardkhon sections, between Dashti and Deir cities, and it is located east of Gankhak village in Dashti city and north of Jashak village in Deir city. This salt dome is located in the heart of Mount Jashak, near its northern end, and forms the highest part of the mountain. West of it is Gankhak village, east of it is Kordlan village, northeast of it is Darvishi village (Dashti city), and south of it is Jashak village.
Features of Jashak salt dome
Jashak salt dome is 12 km long and 4.5 km wide. The area of the dome is about 3666 hectares and the height of its peak is 1350 meters above sea level. The special location of the Jashak salt dome, which causes the salinity of the Mand river water, is perhaps the only harmful factor in the region. The river is sweet and drinkable and can be used for agriculture before Baghan village. But after passing by the dome and bypassing it, the river water is accompanied by a high percentage of salt. In the rainy season, the river water covers the surface of the Chaghapur and Dashti plains and due to high evaporation, salt remains on the soil surface and causes the salinity of the land in the region.
Jashak region is considered mountainous and due to special topographical and climatic conditions, it does not have any fresh water springs, drinking water and wells. Only salt caves and salt springs are located there in abundance. The parts of the dome that have salt do not have any vegetation. Of course, most of the layers that make up the mountain are limestone that rises from the salt mountain and has very good vegetation. Salt-resistant plants can also be found on the slopes of the mountain. In general, the vegetation of the area includes Goon, Gishdar and Qich, which in the winter and spring season, all kinds of annual plants cover the ground and give it a special beauty. Also, in the valleys that have been spared from the salt flats, side shrubs can be seen in abundance.
Some consider this phenomenon to be the result of a kind of curse. According to the belief of some, in the past, goats with delicious milk lived in this area. The delicacy of goats’ milk tempted women to drink it. Any woman who tried to milk a goat was turned to stone by the same goat. In this way, women and goats were turned into stone and Jashak’s salt dome was formed.
Others believe that this place was a place where a demon lived and protected him.
The salt dome of the plain hosts many beautiful minerals and crystals that are spread across the dome. The variety of colors of salt dome is a surprising and surprising phenomenon that cannot be found anywhere else. These various colors of red, brown, white, yellow, black and orange play an important role in attracting tourists, and the beautiful salt crystals and many non-silicate minerals such as pyrite and fluorine with a variety of colors and metallic and non-metallic luster are attractive to every viewer.
Salt glaciers are among the beautiful phenomena of the salt dome of the plain and can be clearly seen in the northwest area of the dome. These glaciers, which are the result of the gravitational movement of salt masses in the direction of the earth’s slope, are formed on the side of the dome and are known by this name because of their similarity with ice glaciers.
The beautiful salt waterfalls are one of the other tourism features of the salt dome of the plain, which have given it a very beautiful and pleasant face. These waterfalls are actually the natural path of the dome water flow. In low water seasons, due to the complete evaporation of water, thick beautiful salt crystals are formed in the direction of the flow and especially in the path of the waterfalls, creating a spectacular view of the salt waterfall. This rare phenomenon can be seen in mid-spring to summer and autumn.
Cauliflower Valley is one of the most interesting sights in the region. The entire surface of the valley is covered by salts that are in the form of cauliflower. The dimensions of these salted cabbage flowers are different from each other and some of them look like blooming flowers.
Playa is one of the beautiful phenomena of erosion resulting from salt domes, which is formed in the plains downstream of the domes due to the salinity of the seasonal waters from these domes and its runoff on the plain and the concentration of alluvium in the concave areas in the form of salt flats.
Genie chimneys, which are also known as Takht Diu, are one of the most beautiful erosion phenomena of Jashak Dome. Due to the difference in the erodibility of the rocks, this phenomenon has appeared in the form of columns among the dome salts.
Salt caves are another spectacular effect of the salt dome of the plain. These caves, which are created due to the dissolution of salt deposits, can be seen in places of the dome. In the inner parts of these caves, beautiful salt crystals in the form of stalagmites and stalactites have given the caves a spectacular effect.
These springs are actually the pulse of life of Jashak salt dome. Salty water from the depths of the earth reaches its surface from the springs. These springs can be seen everywhere in the area. Without salt springs, Jashak’s salt dome will come to an end.
