Jashak Salt Dome

Jashak Salt Dome

Jashak Salt Dome is the greatest, most appealing, and acting dome in the Middle East, located in the South Western part of Iran. This charming vault, in the neighborhood of The Persian Gulf, is deemed to be the unique natural tourist attraction in Bushehr Province and typically exceptional in the world. Surprisingly, it dates back to six million years ago. Noteworthy to add that this salty catacomb, also called Dashti Salt Dome, is nationally registered as a natural fossil work of the fourfold geological zones safeguarded by the Iran Environmental Protection Organization.

Proudly speaking, the Jashak dome has also been cataloged as a test list- an icon of Unesco Global Heritage. This dome is situated sixty-four kilometers from Khormoj township, the center of Dashti county, and a hundred forty-four kilometers from the center of the province. The extension of this vault is about four thousand hectares available from its west side through the old salt-rock mine’s dirt road. Belonging to the first periods of geology, Jashak Salt Dome is very difficult to reach, and knowing exactly about the inward accessible paths is almost impossible.

Geographically, Jashak Salt Dome is located in The Jashak Mountains and includes salt caves and wells, salt waterfalls, salt springs, a beautiful natural phenomenon named cauliflower Valley, and miraculous anomalies called the Jinni’s chimneys. Its odd appearance has caused the natives to believe in a local myth that ascribes the existence of Jashak Salt Dome to a big legendary curse. Another saying even ascribes its formation to a traditional tale that assumes the very dome as the lodging place, territory, and simultaneously a safe shelter of a monster.

Jashak Mountain Dome is an extensive and high region that offers a colorful carnival of strange stones, breathtaking geologic views, and salt crystals that remind every spectator of the luminous chandeliers of the Gothic castles. The white color of the edible salt, spreading everywhere around the dome, makes it miraculously appear as a huge snowy mountain in the heart of a hot land. To those driving from Khormoj to Dayyer port, it sounds like a shining white crystal sculpture surrounded by the vast plain that elegantly catches the eyes of the awestruck watchers. Around this sparkling arcade, salt masses have moved downwards in a slopping way and caused a unique shape known as salt icehouses.

Still more wonderful is the unique phenomenon of the dome’s amazing fountain. What we normally imagine of fountains are those streaming in the woods and greeneries. This dome’s reservoir, though, is a paradox of such a usual presupposition. These streams are the natural water flow of the dome, which has left thick salt crystals due to complete evaporation that happened during the dry seasons of the year. They have been beautifully shaped along the flow of the fountains creating terrific scenes of salt streams. This extraordinary phenomenon is visible from mid-spring to summer and even early in the fall season each year. 

The tempting attractions of Jashak Salt Dome are unlimited. Salt caves are other examples of such a charm. The salt piles sometimes turn out to be melted somewhere in the area and form cavities that are called salt caves. In such eye-catching hollows, the sticky stalagmites shine, encompassing the region and creating a surreal picture that is reminiscent of epic fantasies like that of The Lord of the Rings. A gallery of gleaming orange, brown, and golden glows of sticky, edgy, razor-like salt stalks has made a lustrous sight very similar to fairy tales. Among the natural wonders of The Dashti Dome, the highly spectacular phenomenon of erosion tempts the eyes of the onlookers.

Natural erosion has formed a variety of dazzling shapes in the dome. Among them, the Giant Throne is the most blinding example that has been the result of erosion difference between the salt and the stones. Such a difference has created columns of various heights that appear as Giant beds to the natives. The most surprising part of the dome is the gorgeous and exclusive valley that is famed as the cauliflower canyon. The very surface is fully covered with orange and white salt chunks formed as cauliflowers. The highly dense salty springs that produce thick salt crystals are the reasons formation of such a glorious scene that shines under the gleaming rays of the sunlight.

Despite the salty field, the surrounding vegetation of the Jashak salt dome is surprisingly delicate. Milk vetch and Goji plants are often found everywhere. Fascinatingly, mountain almonds, Cedar plants, and lovely stone flowers are also seen in the areas that are not that salty. However, during the hot seasons, starting from June to mid-October, there are no living things but bats and lizards. Nevertheless, during the winter and spring seasons, a variety of glamorous one-year plants would bestow a specific beauty to the setting. On top of that, diverse animals like goats, foxes, jackals, and cute birds such as grouses, partridges, swallows, night birds, and lovely sparrows have given a delightful appeal to the entire dome area. 

Last but not least, very close to Jashak Salt Dome, the lucky visitors could also enjoy a lavishly impressive bay named Naiband National Park. Massive coral cliffs of this site are always the target of professional divers. This placid corner is a safe and amiable spot for sea turtles and other aquatic species to lay eggs. Decades ago, this flawless area used to be the hub of national trade and marble hunting.  

So, if everyone is looking for a dream journey, Jashak Salt Dome is a must-to-go place that generously invites every perfectionist tourist to experience unusual oxymoronic scenes where fire and ice fantastically dance together, offering a unique Persian natural art. It is an all-inclusive zone that simultaneously includes a heaven of colors, a sea of wealth, a gem of knowledge, rare tests of science, and in a word, the fictitious and miraculous beauty of Iran. The very dome, as a Persian marble statute, proudly welcomes viewers who are passionate about the artistic taste of the intact nature of Iran.