Badab-e Surt
Badab Soort(Persian:باداب سورت) is a natural site inMazandaran Provincein northernIran,95 kilometres (59 mi) south-east of the city ofSari,and 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) east of Orost village. It comprises a range of steppedtravertineterraceformations that have been created over thousands of years as flowing water from twomineral hot springscooled and depositedcarbonate mineralson the mountainside.[1]
Etymology[edit]
Badabis aPersiancompound of Bād "gas" + āb "water", translating to "gassed water", referring to the springs' waters beingcarbonated mineral waters.Soortis an old name for the Orost village and a Persian word meaning intensity.[2]
Geology[edit]
Badab Soort's springs are two distinctmineral springswith different natural characteristics, located at 1,840 metres (6,040 ft) above sea level. The first spring contains very salty water that gathers in a small natural pool; its water is considered to have medicinal properties, especially as a cure forrheumatismand some types of skin diseases and skin conditions. The second spring has a sour taste and is predominantly orange mainly due to the largeiron oxidesedimentsat its outlet.[2]
Badab Soort's terraces are made of travertine, asedimentaryrock deposited by flowing water from the two distinct mineral springs; they were formed duringPleistoceneandPliocenegeological periods. When the water, supersaturated withcalcium carbonateandiron carbonate,reaches the surface,carbon dioxidedegases from it, and mineral carbonates are deposited. The depositing continues until the carbon dioxide in the water balances the carbon dioxide in the air. Iron carbonate and calcium carbonate are deposited by the water as soft jellies, but they eventually harden into travertine.[1][2]
As a result, over the course of thousands of years the water from these two springs emanating from the mountain range have combined and resulted in a number of orange-, red- and yellow-colored pools shaped as a naturally formed staircase. The surrounding vegetation to the north consists of pine forests while to the east it mainly consists of short trees and shrubs; and rock quarries can be seen to the west of the site.[2]
Panoramic view[edit]
Similar places[edit]
- Mammoth Hot Springsin the USA
- Pamukkalein Turkey
- Huanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Areain China
References[edit]
- ^ab"Cultural Heritage Agency of Semnan".Archived fromthe originalon 2015-09-24.Retrieved2010-12-07.
- ^abcd"Orost Village Official Site".Retrieved2010-12-07.
External links[edit]
