The Zagros mountains form a long chain of snow-capped ridges and peaks in Iran, with Mt. Dena being the highest point at 4,409 m (14,465 ft.). This mountain range stretches along the western portion of Iran, in a northwest-southeastern direction, for about 1,600 km (990 miles). They run from southern Turkey and northeast Iraq to the southern parts of Persia. Green fertile valleys and plateaus are found in between these high ridges where people practice animal husbandry (livestock raising) and agriculture as their main sources of livelyhood.
The origin of the Zagros mountains dates back to the Jurassic period of the Mesozoic era, about 155 million years ago. They were formed by the orogenic collision of the Arabian plate under the Eurasian plate. The geological structure of this mountain range consists mainly of limestone, which is a carbonate sedimentary rock formed by compressed and mineralized organic materials. However, outcrops of Paleozoic era older rocks and boulders are found in the highest portion of these elevations. Several rivers, such as the Karun, rising above 4,000 of altitude, flow down into the Persian Gulf.
Below, map of the Middle East, showing Iran, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf. You can see the Zagros Mountain Range marked with brown dashes.
A high snow-capped peak in the Zagros mountain range in Iran.
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