Namakdan Cave in Qeshm and the Lut Desert Yardangs have been named among the top 100 geological sites in the world. This prestigious recognition highlights the global significance of these Iranian landmarks.
Alireza Ameri, a senior evaluator for UNESCO World Geoparks and a member of the Supreme Council, announced that these Iranian sites have been acknowledged for their exceptional geological significance. According to many others are still to be registered at both national and global levels.
In an interview with ISNA, Ameri revealed that the International Union of Geosciences (IUGS) initiated a program in 2022 to identify and rank the world’s premier geological sites. Iran proposed Namakdan Cave and the Lut Desert Yardangs as candidates in 2022. Both sites successfully passed the rigorous evaluation process and were selected as part of the top 100.
Ameri added that the nomination files for these sites were submitted to the IUGS in 2021 with the help of several experts and professors. The selection of these two sites was a significant achievement, as they were chosen from numerous submissions representing 180 countries.
A member of the Supreme Council of UNESCO World Geoparks highlighted that last year, the International Union of Geosciences (IUGS) began the second phase of selecting the top 100 geological sites worldwide. Iran submitted the “Salt Domes and Salt Flows of the Folded Belt of Zagros” for consideration, and the site was successfully selected with a high score. Dr. Mohammad Reza Ghasemi, a member of the academic staff at the Research Institute for Earth Sciences, and Seyed Jafar Omrani, Deputy Geologist at the Geological Survey and Mineral Exploration Organization of Iran, played key roles in this accomplishment.
Discussing the significance of Iran’s salt domes, which have now been included in the world’s top 100 sites, Alireza Ameri, senior evaluator of UNESCO World Geoparks, stated that Iran’s salt domes are globally unique in both number and type. He noted that southern Iran is home to nearly 250 salt domes, which geologists worldwide regard as some of the most remarkable and exemplary tectonic sites.
Ameri further explained that each salt dome presents its own distinctive phenomena, including salt glaciers, salt flows, salt caves, dolines, and salt karst formations.
He also emphasized that when a site is recognized among the top 100 geological sites globally, its preservation becomes extremely valuable and should be prioritized for the highest level of protection. While some of Iran’s salt domes have already been listed as national natural heritage sites by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, many others remain unregistered at both national and global levels.
Alireza Ameri further urged the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts to take the initiative in preparing the necessary documentation for the registration of several important unlisted salt domes. He stressed the need for legal protection, as salt domes are closely tied to significant economic activities, particularly mining. Safeguarding these unique and exemplary domes from exploitation is crucial to ensuring their preservation.
Ameri also pointed out that these domes have immense potential for Geo tourism due to their visual appeal, which can attract a large number of tourists.
He noted that some of the salt domes already registered in Iran include the Jashk Salt Dome in Bushehr, the Qom Salt Dome, and the Namakdan Dome in Qeshm.
Protection of Two Newly Ranked Global Sites
In response to whether the protection of the globally recognized Qeshm Salt Cave and the Lut Desert Yardangs is currently on the national agenda, Alireza Ameri explained: “Fortunately, both sites are located within internationally protected areas. The Qeshm Salt Cave is part of the UNESCO World Geopark on Qeshm Island, while the Lut Desert Yardangs are located within the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Both sites are officially and legally protected.”
Key Features of the World’s Top Sites
Ameri, a member of the Supreme Council for UNESCO World Geoparks, highlighted the criteria for selecting the world’s top geological sites. One crucial factor is the site’s uniqueness and rarity. A site must be one of a kind, and even if similar features exist elsewhere, it must stand out as the best of its kind. While salt domes exist in other parts of the world, Iran’s salt domes are considered exceptionally unique.
He also emphasized that having sufficient scientific documentation to support a site’s significance is another key criterion for inclusion among the world’s top sites. This means that extensive research must have been conducted on the site, with scientific resources readily available for reference.
According to Alireza Ameri, an international expert in geoparks, after the initial screening of proposed sites, the files of selected sites are reviewed by four international judges who assign scores based on various criteria.
Ameri emphasized that the total score for each site determines its ranking, and the top 100 sites are ultimately featured in the prestigious IUGS publication, which introduces these sites to a global audience.
He also mentioned that the call for submissions for the third round of the top 100 sites has not yet been announced. Once the call is published, Ameri and his colleagues will prepare a new plan and evaluate potential candidates for submission.
