{xtypo_info}Armenian Monastic Ensembles (Inscription at 2008){/xtypo_info}

The Armenian Monastic Ensembles in Iran, in the north-west of the country, consists of three monastic ensembles of the Armenian Christian faith: St Thaddeus and St Stepanos and the Chapel of Dzordzor. These edifices - the oldest of which, St Thaddeus, dates back to the 7th century – are examples of outstanding universal value of the Armenian architectural and decorative traditions. They bear testimony to very important interchanges with the other regional cultures, in particular the Byzantine, Orthodox and Persian. Situated on the south-eastern fringe of the main zone of the Armenian cultural space, the monasteries constituted a major centre for the dissemination of that culture in the region. They are the last regional remains of this culture that are still in a satisfactory state of integrity and authenticity. Furthermore, as places of pilgrimage, the monastic ensembles are living witnesses of Armenian religious traditions through the centuries.

{xtypo_info}Bam (Inscription at 2004){/xtypo_info}

Bam is situated in a desert environment on the southern edge of the Iranian high plateau. The origins of Bam can be traced back to the Achaemenid period (6th to 4th centuries BC). Its heyday was from the 7th to 11th centuries, being at the crossroads of important trade routes and known for the production of silk and cotton garments. The existence of life in the oasis was based on the underground irrigation canals, the qanāts, of which Bam has preserved some of the earliest evidence in Iran. Arg-e Bam is the most representative example of a fortified medieval town built in vernacular technique using mud layers (Chineh).

{xtypo_info}Bisoutun (Inscription at 2006){/xtypo_info}

Bisotun is located along the ancient trade route linking the Iranian high plateau with Mesopotamia and features remains from the prehistoric times to the Median, Achaemenid, Sassanian, and Ilkhanid periods. The principal monument of this archaeological site is the bas-relief and cuneiform inscription ordered by Darius I, The Great, when he rose to the throne of the Persian Empire, 521 BC. The bas-relief portrays Darius holding a bow, as a sign of sovereignty, and treading on the chest of a figure who lies on his back before him. According to legend, the figure represents Gaumata, the Median Magus and pretender to the throne whose assassination led to Darius’s rise to power. Below and around the bas-reliefs, there are ca. 1,200 lines of inscriptions telling the story of the battles Darius waged in 521-520 BC against the governors who attempted to take apart the Empire founded by Cyrus. The inscription is written in three languages. The oldest is an Elamite text referring to legends describing the king and the rebellions. This is followed by a Babylonian version of similar legends. The last phase of the inscription is particularly important, as it is here that Darius introduced for the first time the Old Persian version of his res gestae (things done). This is the only known monumental text of the Achaemenids to document the re-establishment of the Empire by Darius I. It also bears witness to the interchange of influences in the development of monumental art and writing in the region of the Persian Empire. There are also remains from the Median period (8th to 7th centuries B.C.) as well as from the Achaemenid (6th to 4th centuries B.C.) and post-Achaemenid periods.

{xtypo_info}Emam Square (Inscription at 1979){/xtypo_info}

Built by Shah Abbas I the Great at the beginning of the 17th century, and bordered on all sides by monumental buildings linked by a series of two-storeyed arcades, the site is known for the Royal Mosque, the Mosque of Sheykh Lotfollah, the magnificent Portico of Qaysariyyeh and the 15th-century Timurid palace. They are an impressive testimony to the level of social and cultural life in Persia during the Safavid era.

{xtypo_info}Pasargadae (Inscription at 2004){/xtypo_info}

Pasargadae was the first dynastic capital of the Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus II the Great, in Pars, homeland of the Persians, in the 6th century BC. Its palaces, gardens and the mausoleum of Cyrus are outstanding examples of the first phase of royal Achaemenid art and architecture and exceptional testimonies of Persian civilization. Particularly noteworthy vestiges in the 160-ha site include: the Mausoleum of Cyrus II; Tall-e Takht, a fortified terrace; and a royal ensemble of gatehouse, audience hall, residential palace and gardens. Pasargadae was the capital of the first great multicultural empire in Western Asia. Spanning the Eastern Mediterranean and Egypt to the Hindus River, it is considered to be the first empire that respected the cultural diversity of its different peoples. This was reflected in Achaemenid architecture, a synthetic representation of different cultures.

{xtypo_info}Persepolis (Inscription at 1979){/xtypo_info}

Founded by Darius I in 518 B.C., Persepolis was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It was built on an immense half-artificial, half-natural terrace, where the king of kings created an impressive palace complex inspired by Mesopotamian models. The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site.

{xtypo_info}Soltaniyeh (Inscription at 2005){/xtypo_info}

The mausoleum of Oljaytu was constructed in 1302–12 in the city of Soltaniyeh, the capital of the Ilkhanid dynasty, which was founded by the Mongols. Situated in the province of Zanjan, Soltaniyeh is one of the outstanding examples of the achievements of Persian architecture and a key monument in the development of its Islamic architecture. The octagonal building is crowned with a 50 m tall dome covered in turquoise-blue faience and surrounded by eight slender minarets. It is the earliest existing example of the double-shelled dome in Iran. The mausoleum’s interior decoration is also outstanding and scholars such as A.U. Pope have described the building as ‘anticipating the Taj Mahal’.

{xtypo_info}Takht-e Soleyman (Inscription at 2003){/xtypo_info}

The archaeological site of Takht-e Soleyman, in north-western Iran, is situated in a valley set in a volcanic mountain region. The site includes the principal Zoroastrian sanctuary partly rebuilt in the Ilkhanid (Mongol) period (13th century) as well as a temple of the Sasanian period (6th and 7th centuries) dedicated to Anahita. The site has important symbolic significance. The designs of the fire temple, the palace and the general layout have strongly influenced the development of Islamic architecture.

{xtypo_info}Chogha Zanbil (Inscription at 1979){/xtypo_info}

The ruins of the holy city of the Kingdom of Elam, surrounded by three huge concentric walls, are found at Tchogha Zanbil. Founded c. 1250 B.C., the city remained unfinished after it was invaded by Ashurbanipal, as shown by the thousands of unused bricks left at the site.

{xtypo_info}Jame' (Congregational) Mosque of Esfahan (1997){/xtypo_info}

Covering approximately 2 hectares, the Jame' ('Atiq) Mosque of Esfahan constitutes the supreme living testimony of the evolution of Iranian architecture in the Islamic period from its origins to the present.

{xtypo_info}Historic ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin (1997){/xtypo_info}

This ensemble is located within a perimeter covering ? hectares northeast of Qasr-e Shirin and includes such architectural and urban remains from the late Sassanian period and the early Islamic period as the palace of Khosrow (attributed to the Sassanian Chosroes II, AD 591-628), the Chahar Qapu monument, remains of a stone tower famous as Ban Qal'eh (from the Sassanian period and the early Islamic period) and remains of a caravansary from the Safavid period.

{xtypo_info}Firuzabad Ensemble (1997){/xtypo_info}

The ensemble at Firuzabad comprises, within a 12 km diameter area, such archaeological sites as the City of Gur, the Palace of Ardashir (Atashkadeh), Qal'eh Dokhtar fortress, bas reliefs from the time of Ardashir (the founder of the Sassanian dynasty), the Pahlavi inscription of Mehr-Nerse and Tangab Bridge. This ensemble embodies the political, historic, cultural and artistic developments of the early Sassanian period.

The City of Gur covers a perfect circle 2 km in diameter, and 8 km away from it, the palace of Ardashir stands beside a pond on the bank of the western branch of Tangab river (Firuzabad). The Qal'eh Dokhtar fortress stands atop the mountain adjoining Tangab river and the ensemble built 4 km away from the palace of Aldashir. At the foot of the Qal'eh Dokhtar fortress the remains of a Sassanian bridge, and on its opposite body the bas-relief depicting the crowning of Ardashir, the Pahlavi Sassanian inscription of Mehr-Nerse, from the time of Yazdgerd II, and at a small distance, between the palace and the fortress, the bas-relief depicting the victory of Ardashir over Ataban V, the last Parthian king, are situated.

{xtypo_info}Shush (1997){/xtypo_info}

Covering about 350 hectares, Susa constitutes one of the world's largest archaeological sites. It was formed on the bank of Sha'ur river since the 4th millennium BC and has been uninterruptedly inhabited until the 8th century A.H. Along this period, it was the capital of the Elamites and subsequently the Achaemenians for some 2.800 years. Since about 150 years ago, first the French Archeological Mission and then Iranians archaeological teams have carried out excavations here, retrieving artifacts, buildings and objects from various periods, and, most importantly, knowledge about Elamite history and culture.

{xtypo_info}St.Tatavoos Cathedral (Qara-Kelissa) (1997){/xtypo_info}

According to Armenian religious narratives, this is the first church built in Iran by St.Tatavoos, a disciple of the Christ last martyred, and allegedly buried, here. Historic texts first mention this church in the 7th century AD. The building collapsed during an earthquake in AD 1319 (719 AH) and its main body, made of black stone, was restored by the bishop Zakaria during 10 years and completed in AD 1329. The building comprises two parts: a black section, called Qara-Kelissa, and a white section, appended to the latter's western side in AD 1810 (1224 AH). The ensemble appears to emulate the spatial layout of Echmiazin Cathedral in Armenia, attributed to AD 301.

{xtypo_info}Nasqsh-e Rostam and Naqsh-e Rajab (1997){/xtypo_info}

An ensemble of historic, religious and artistic works from the Achaemenian and Sasanian periods located within a small perimeter near the monuments of Persepolis and those of the pre-Sasanian city of Estakhr, between which flows the Polvar river.

1. Naqsh-e Rajab, at the foot of Mt.Hosain, where Elamite remains are to be found, an important funerary ensemble of Achaemenian kings, particularly the graves of Darius I and Xerxes, exists. Their facades bear Achaemenian bas-reliefs and 6 important bas-reliefs from the first half of the Sasanian period are visible below them.

2. Naqsh-e Rajab: several hundred meters away from the remains of the city of Estakhr, four bas-relief panels from the early Sasanian period exist within a small ensemble.

{xtypo_info}Tape Sialk (1997){/xtypo_info}

Tape Sialk consists of two mounds known as Northern and Southern Sialk, located about 600 meters apart.

The artifacts of the northern mounds are more ancient than those of the southern. Relics of two cultural periods, from the beginning of settlement in villages in the Near East to the end of this period, and those of three cultural periods, beginning from the onset of settlement in cities, exist here. At the end of the second period, for unknown reasons, the inhabitants of Sialk moved to the southern mound and settled there. They used a type of script known as proto-Elamite, whose signs combined pictograms and numerals (3200 BC). In view of their use of gray ceramic ware, the last inhabitants of Sialk buried their dead in two graveyards named A and B. Sialk was eventually abandoned at the end of the Iron Age, before the advent of the Medes.

{xtypo_info}Historic-Natural Axis of Isfahan City (2007){/xtypo_info}

The combined historic-natural axis of Isfahan is with no doubt the most significant urban structure in Iran that was planned in Seventieth Century - in continuation of the organic structure shaped in previous centuries - and has influenced and guided the growth of the city during the past 400 years.

The First axis consists of five sections:

1. The bazaar stretching about 2500 meters from Toghchi Gate to Naghsh-e-Jahan Square;
2. The Safavid Court Quarter 500 meters Length from Naghsh-e-Jahan Square to the beginning of Chahar Bagh;
3. The Abbasid Chahar Bagh with an approximately 1500 meters length, from Dowlat Gate to the Zayandeh - Roud River;
4. Si-o-se-pol Bridge, 400 meter Length (over the width of the river, along the axis); and
5. Upper Chahar Bagh with 1500 meter length from Zayandeh Roud to Hezar Jarib Garden (presently Isfahan University Campus).

Thus, the length of this man-made axis is totally 6400 meters.

The Second axis consists of the Zayandeh - Roud river in between historic bridges of Marnan and Shahrestan with an approximate length of 8000 meters and width of 300 meters. For depicting the combined historic--natural axis of Isfahan an area of 340 hectares including 1320 parcels (registered plots) is allocated where over 220 historic buildings with excellent or distinguished values (such as mosques, caravansaries, schools, public baths and ...) as well as several complexes with authentic historic composition are located.

For this area, a Primary Buffer Zone of 440 hectares (including 4780 plots) and a Secondry Buffer Zone of 385 hectares (including 8500 plots) are designated.

 {xtypo_info}Bagh-e Fin (Fin Garden), Kashan (2007){/xtypo_info}

The network of Persian gardens means a collection of gardens which encompasses the most significant historical gardens. Bagh-e Fin is one of the most authentic and prominent gardens in such a network.

Although there are some hints in several sources about the background of Bagh-e Fin prior to Safavid Dynasty specially on the manner of construction in the new place and abandonment of the Old bagh (garden), but no clear image of it can be found. From the end of 10th century Hijra that is the starting point of the bagh construction in the new place, closer to the Mazharkhaneh of Soleymaniyeh Spring, the historical records about the developments of the bagh are more definite. The pinnacle of developments done for the bagh can be seen from the reign of King Abbas I (1587-1629 AD) to the reign of King Abbas II (1666-1624 AD).

In Qajar dynasty, it has been highly regarded in the reign of Fath-Ali Shah (1795-1834 AD) and many annexations have been added to the building. The garden has been paid less attention to after the fath-Ali Shah's decease till 1935 and even some parts have been destroyed. It was finally inscribed in the list of National Properties in 1935 and it received a new phase of attention. The Persian gardens are a kind of open and green spaces that have been designed from very past times. Through thousands of years, such spaces, a wide-ranging network of gardens have come to existence all over the areas in which the Iranian culture and civilization had dominated and or influenced by this civilization.

Bagh-e Fin has been located among a collection of gardens in the region of Fin. The forging collection has been created by the irrigation of the region of Small Fin (Fin-e Kouchak) by means of the historical spring of Soleymaniyeh. Bagh-e Fin is totally about 2.3 hectares in area and a yard to the dimensions of 120m×140m, approximately 1.7 hectares in area, has been allocated for the main yard. This main yard is the most important part of the garden and has been surrounded by four ramparts and towers which have been constructed in the joining points of the ramparts.

There is a main passage in the garden from the loft (Sardarkhaneh) to the clove (Shahneshin) at the end of the garden. This passage is the most important one and encompasses several important elements including main palace, the front open space, pool, pond with 12 fountains, and the pond which is called Hoze-joosh.There exist 579 cypress trees and 11 plane trees.

{xtypo_info}Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System (2007){/xtypo_info}

Shushtar, is a town in south-western Iran, located in the province of Khuzestan (figs. 1-4). The town stands on a cliff to the west of which runs the river Kârun, the middle course of which begins a few kilometres north of the town. This position offers considerable commercial and strategic importance and has made possible the construction of various waterworks for which the town has long been celebrated. The main features of these constructions are: (1) the canal called Ab-e Gargar (or the medieval Mashreqân) which is led from the left bank of the river about 500 m north of the town; it runs southwards along the east side of the cliffs of Shushtar and rejoins the Kârun at Band-e Qir; (2) the great barrage called Band-e Qaysar (the Dike of Caesar) also known as Band-e Mizân, which is thrown across the principal arm of the river (here called Shoteit) east of the town and is about 350 m long; this barrage supports a bridge that connected the town with the west bank, but now a considerable gap is broken in it; (3) the canal called Miyânâb which begins above the barrage in the form of a tunnel cut out of the rock on the western side of the town; the Miyânâb turns southwards and irrigates the land south of the town. These structures along with other waterworks of Shushtar are described in full below.

The difference of levels between the settlement and the Kârun, flowing more than 10 m lower, persuaded the inhabitants to solve their problems by building waterworks and structures. The main aim of these constructions was to meet the inhabitants' needs for either protecting themselves from floods or irrigating their agricultural lands and making possible passages across the river and canals. Initially, it was a state project supported by kings and local rulers of the region to construct waterworks that resulted in the development of agriculture, which was the major economic asset of the region. The construction of bridges, dams, bridge-Dams, mills, qanâts, reservoirs, tunnels, and canals for the water supply of the town (fig. 6). Most of these structures and buildings were constructed in the Sâssanian period (224-650 A.D.), especially during the reign of Shapur I (r. 240-272 A.D.).

{xtypo_info}Historical Ensemble of Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardebili (2007){/xtypo_info}

The group of establishments known, at present, as the mausoleum of Sheikh Safi is mainly composed of two entrances, one in the form of a portal, the other in the form of a porch with an inscribed tile in the name of Shah-Abbas II, Sheikh Safi's tomb-chamber, Haram-Khaneh (harem), Shah Esmaïl's tomb-chamber, Chini-Khaneh, Jannat-Sara, the mosque, Khaneqah, Cheraq-Khaneh, the Shahidgah (Martyrdom). The complex can be seen as two principal bodies of monuments, an elongated courtyard which is attached to the religious sector through a small courtyard south of Chelleh-Khaneh.

{xtypo_info}Susa (2007){/xtypo_info}

Covering about 350 hectares, Susa constitutes one of the world‘s largest archaeological sites. It has been located at the fountainhead of the city river. Since the 4th millennium BC people have uninterruptedly lived there until the 8th century AH. Along this period, it was the capital of the Elamites and subsequently the Achaemenians for totally about 2800 years. For the first time, a French archeologist worked there about 150 years ago. Subsequently, Iranian Archaeological teams have carried out excavations here, unraething artifacts, buildings and objects from different historical periods, and most importantly about Elamite history and culture.

{xtypo_info} The Ensemble of Historical Sassanian Cities in Fars Province (Bishabpur, Firouzabad, Sarvestan) (2007){/xtypo_info}

The ensemble of historical Sassanian cities in Fars Province contains the cities of Bishabpur, Firouzabad and Sarvestan which embodies the political, historical, cultural and artistic developments of the Sassanian period. This ensemble consist of the city of Gur, the place(?) of Ardeshir, Qal'eh-e Dokhtar Fortress and finally some bas-reliefs.

{xtypo_info}Taq-e Bostan (2007){/xtypo_info}

This complex consists of a series of properties from prehistoric to historical periods such as Morad-Hassel Tepe, an ancient village, a Parthian graveyard and a Sassanid hunting ground. The most significant property of the complex belongs to the Sassanid one which comprises of two porticos (large and small Ivans) as well as outstanding bas-reliefs from the same period.

The Complex of Handmade Settlements in Iran (Maymand Village) (2007){/xtypo_info}

This village shows the way of continuous life of human beings through the history; those who utilized at most the existing natural facilities and harmonized with the surrounding nature.

{xtypo_info}Kuh-e Khuaja (2007){/xtypo_info}

Covering over 5 hectares atop Kuh-e Khuaja near Zabol, stands as one of the most important Iranian historic city-fortresses and an important unfired (place) brick ensemble of pre-Islamic and early Islamic Iran in the region. It includes remains from the Parthian, Sassanid and the early Islamic periods which feature outstanding architectural decoration (frescoes and stucco carvings). Historically and artistically, this site bears quasi-religious value.

{xtypo_info}Shahr-e Sukhteh (2007){/xtypo_info}

Covering some 120 Hectares and located along the Zabol-Zahedan Highway, the historic site of Shahr-e Sukhte is the most important prehistoric city of the 3rd millennium BC and a key location for Iranian prehistoric studies, particularly concerning the southeastern region, and a connection point between Near Eastern civilization and that of the Indus valley. The findings of the archaeological excavations and researches as well as laboratory studies, have provided ample data about third-millennium BC civilization in Iran and the country's prehistory in general.

{xtypo_info}Persepolis and other relevant buildings (2007){/xtypo_info}

Persepolis is one of the three properties included in the World Heritage List in 1979, belonging to the Achaemanid dynasty and is the most complete architectural form and city planning of this period. This property had been not only a political center but also a religious one. Moreover, the existence of the sacred mount of Mehr (Rahmat) in the neighborhood of Persepolis has been religiously paid attention to from the pre-historic to the present time. It has been recently known that this mount as well as the Royal mausoleums in Naghsh-e Rajab and the city of Estakhr have been both the entry gate of the city of Parsa and the portal of the water supply system. The above-mentioned properties and other relevant buildings created an integrated structure that with disregarding them, Persepolis cannot be defined completely. This ensemble has been regarded as the heart of the Iranian civilization in that period. The Iranian identity is still known and integrated with this ensemble. Some of the creative elements of architecture and city planning of the Achaemenid can be seen today. At the moment, only the Persepolis platform has been  included in the World Heritage List and it needs that the entire ensemble to be included in the List in order complete the whole concept of the property.

{xtypo_info}The Historical–Cultural Axis of Fin, Sialk, Kashan (2007){/xtypo_info}

Soleymanieh Spring in Fin (Kashan) is the origin of life in this region and generated civilizations like Sialk that belong to 6th millennium BC and other instances onward. This spring generated Garden of Fin, the most prominent Iranian garden. The historical region of Kashan is an especial example of civilization from early Islamic period onward. This region contains several properties like mosques, bazaar, tekyehes (a place where Shiite Moslems mourn the martyrdom of an Imam), houses and industrial units.

{xtypo_info}Historical Ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin (2007){/xtypo_info}

This ensemble is located within a perimeter northeast of Qasr-e Shirin and includes such architectural and urban remains from the late Sassanid period and the early Islamic period as the palace of Khosrow (attributed to the Sassanid Chosroes II, AD 591-628), the Chahar Qapu monument, remains of a stone tower known as Ban Qal'eh ( from Sassanid period and the early Islamic period) and remains of a caravansary from the Safavid period.

{xtypo_info}Historic Monument of Kangavar (2007){/xtypo_info}

A monument known as the Temple of Anahita built on a rock platform overlooking the plain of Kangavar. This is a huge building measuring 220m×212m. The monument has a two-sided stairway on its southern front and a one-sided stairway at its northeastern corner. Historical sources and archaeological evidence attribute this monument to the Achaemenid period until the Islamic period.

{xtypo_info}Bazaar of Tabriz (2007){/xtypo_info}

This bazaar is the largest historical one in Iran that has been at least founded since 2nd  millennium BC in the same place according to the new findings. The main structure of the bazaar consists of two main roofed northern and southern building lines and several western-eastern ones. Its area is about 3 square kilometers and the largest roofed and attached brick complex in the world.

{xtypo_info}The Historical Structure of Yazd (2007){/xtypo_info}

The historical structure of Yazd is a collection of public-religious architecture in a very large scope comprising of different Islamic architectural elements of different periods in a harmonious combination with climatic conditions.

{xtypo_info}The Historical City of Maybod (2007){/xtypo_info}

It is a remarkable example of viability and transmission of human being's collective thoughts from different generations to the present one. What is significant in the city of Maybod is the regularity in city planning. The anatomy and spatial structure of the city shows original plans which conform with the old Iranian city planning.

{xtypo_info}Tehran Historical – Cultural Axis (Golestan Palace) (2007){/xtypo_info}

This place is a remainder of Tehran historical Citadel, the residence of Qajar kings and the most beautiful building of Tehran historical texture that was very famous in the complex of citadel.

{xtypo_info}The Historical Port of Siraf (2007){/xtypo_info}

The historical Port of Siraf is the most important port of Iran from Sassanid period to the 4th century Hegira and there exist a large number of its properties. It proves the Iranians' mastership and genius in seafaring, international relations and interaction with other near and far cultures and civilizations.

{xtypo_info}Bazaar of Qaisariye in Laar (2007){/xtypo_info}

Laar is a sample of an urban planning belonging to pre-Safavid dynasty. Continuity of Bazaar of Qaisariye after the historical Earthquake Event and its planning and expansion and construction of a Square with polo gate and surrounding porticos shows a unique complex of urbanization from post-earthquake period.

{xtypo_info}The Historical Village of Abyaneh (2007){/xtypo_info}

Village of Abyaneh is one of the Iranian historical villages that contains some works from Sassanid period to the present time. It owns several unequal attributions just like the unique temple of "Herpak", a Chief mosque with a unique mihrab from Seljukian period, houses harmonious with climate and mountainous land. One can see Sassanid Pahlavic words in daily conversation as well as villagers' clothing that is rooted in earlier times.

{xtypo_info}Bastam and Kharghan (2007){/xtypo_info}

This assemblage comprises the complex of Sheikh Bayazid Bastami, the Chief Mosque, the towered dome of Kashaneh and a part of old wall of the city. The complex of Sheikh Bayazid Bastami comprises the grave of Sheikh Bayazid Bastami, one of the five elevated Sufis of the world. For the same reason, from 19th century onward, several important properties have been constructed around it. The oldest property of the complex dates back to 8th and 9th centuries AD.

{xtypo_info}The Historical Texture of Damghan (2007){/xtypo_info}

This hill belongs to Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods of Hesar Tepe. It is one of the most famous prehistoric sites of Middle East. In Parthian period, the capital has been transported to Ghoumes in west of Damghan. In the first Islamic century, Damghan reached its peak. It is very hard to find such a place comprising of fateful works in a region with a small area including Mosque (Tarikhaneh) of Damghan, Tower of Alamdar, the Complex of Imamzadeh Ja'far and the city wall that still exist.

{xtypo_info}The Cultural-Natural Landscape of Ramsar (2007){/xtypo_info}

The cultural-natural axis of Ramsar has been stretched from the northern foothills of Alborz Mountains to the shores of Caspean Sea and includes e.g. Ramsar Hotel, thirty -acre Garden, Pahlavi I palace and garden, the main boulevard that ends to (former) Ramsar Casino. It shows the city planning of one century ago that was integrated with nature.

{xtypo_info}Kaboud Mosque (2007){/xtypo_info}

This mosque is one of the precious works of Islamic period (the Temurids) and is known as turquoise of Islam as it has been built of turquoise-colored bricks. It is one of the most beautiful buildings of Timurid period. Geographically, it has been located in a cold climatic condition, and for the same reason, it has no quadrangle. The remainder consists of a tomb and a mosque that its dome is double layered.

{xtypo_info}Tous Cultural Landscape (2007){/xtypo_info}

Tous is one of the places that owns the oldest findings of human being's life and is considered today as the biggest ancient religious city of the world. This city has witnessed different civilizations (cultural sequence). Tous is the hometown of many Iranian cultivated persons.

{xtypo_info}The Historical City of Masouleh (2007){/xtypo_info}

This city has an age of eight hundred to a thousand years. The existence of numerous graveyards inner and outside of the city proves its old texture. Storied and terracing plan of the city is in parallel to the mountain slope. The combination of such architecture with natural landscapes can be a national and international touristy center and the only way of the inhabitants' living. As the all people could directly see the main façade of houses, the local artists and artisans did their best in this part of building.

{xtypo_info}The Complex of Izadkhast (2007){/xtypo_info}

This historical complex has been situated on a natural base along with unique characteristics. The complex contains the castle of Izadkhast, one caravanserai and the Safavid-period bridge. The works inside of the castle belong to different periods from Sassanids to Qajars. The most important section of the complex is the castle that has been built on singular bedrock in a sand construction and close to the valley of Izadkhast. The bedrock has protected the castle from the foreigners' attacks. A bridge and a gate in the most accessible part of the complex made it possible to connect with the surrounding areas. The smallness of the rock led to agglomeration of built rooms. Hence, the smallness of rooms resulted in increase of floors.

{xtypo_info}Cultural Landscape of Alamout (2007){/xtypo_info}

Hassan Sabah's castle has been located in northeastern side of Gazor Khan Village in the environs of Mo'alem Kalayeh, from the environs of Roudbar of Alamout. The relics of castle stand on the cliff of Kanglou-Marazi along with valleys and horrible precipices. The height of this cliff is 220 meters and 2163 meters above the sea level. It is located on the southwestern foothills of Houdkan Mountains, of Alborz Moutains. According to Ata Malak Joveyni, the 7th century historian, this tall cliff from the northeastern side is like a sleeping camel. According to Frya Stark, its upper side looks like a ship that its nose has been extended northwesterly. The relics of walls, towers and lookout posts have been made of stones with gypsum as binding material. The castle is ten thousand square meter in area. The requisite buildings have been constructed on different levels of the steep cliff. All levels and steep places have been optimally utilized.

{xtypo_info}Qanats of Gonabad (2007){/xtypo_info}

The property contains of 427 water wells with a length of 33113 meters and has been constructed based on different sciences like physics, geology and hydraulics and made it possible for the inhabitants to live in such a dry land that it rains there scarcely.

{xtypo_info}Zozan (2007){/xtypo_info}

The historical city of Zozan is located at a distance of 41 kilometers to the historical city of Khargard and is like a rectangular. Its ancient castle stands in the southern side and the chief mosque- belonging to Khwarazmi period with two-balconied plan- stands in the western side of the city.

{xtypo_info}Khorramabad Valley (2007){/xtypo_info}

This valley has been situated in the central heights of Luristan and at heart of limy mounts. Because of abundant water reservoirs and different types of plants and animals, suitable weather and natural defense facilities among Zagros Mountains as well as its special situation as a passage, it has had a great importance through history and has been the origin of life for 40000 years in this region. It is of few Zagros natural passages possessing civilization earlier than the two sides of Zagros Mountains. This valley comprises of at least 20 pre-historic properties such as caves, shelters and ancient sites as well as 20 ancient Tepes and 15 historical properties.

{xtypo_info}Jiroft (2007){/xtypo_info}

It functions as a communicative, cultural, commercial exchange center contacting with neighboring cultures and resembles Anatolia in Caucasus, the Great Khorasan and Mesopotamia.

{xtypo_info}Ghaznavi- Seljukian Axis in Khorasan (2007){/xtypo_info}

There exist numerous caravanserais in Silk Route from Seljukian period including Robat-Sharaf, Robat-Mahi, and historical complex of Sang-bast, Baba Loghman Building and other constructions. These properties prove the significance of the Route in the Great Khorasan and the present Khorasan.

{xtypo_info}The Cultural Landscape of Uramanat (2007){/xtypo_info}

Uramanat Village owns a unique rural texture, architecture, lifestyle and agriculture. And as a prominent example of integration of man into the nature, the inhabitants integrated themselves into the nature through utilization of sharp slopes in agriculture.

{xtypo_info}Golestan National Park (2007){/xtypo_info}

A mountainous area with temperate rain forest ecosystems, lush steppes, scrub woodlands, high rocky cliffs, hills, undulating terrain and lotic and lentic ecosystems (rivers, springs and marshes). The variety of habitats in the area has led to considerable flora and fauna richness in the park. This beautiful area and its various sceneries is the oldest national park in the country which has been protected since 1956. Today this park faces serious problems and urgent measures to solve them are not adopted, and other similar representative examples are not protected as sort of protective support, it will not keep its values even the mid-term ones.

{xtypo_info}Hyrcanian Forest (Caspian Forest) (2007){/xtypo_info}

Hyrcanian forest granted the areas with unique richness of biological diversity, its endemic and endangered species, its natural beauty and its masterpieces of nature creative genius in the form of this ancient forest. North of Iran as along band has diverse natural, economic and social conditions. It characterized by various ecological conditions from 550 to 2200mm precipitation, zero to 5671 m elevation and various vegetation landscape from conifers to broadleaved to Mediterranean plants. These conditions caused great diversity in species. It due to its diverse ecological condition is rich in relict species that some of them referred to the Tertiary period.  Hyrcanian forest contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. It also contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. It is outstanding examples in the record of significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms and significant geomorphic or physiographic features. It is also outstanding example representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, ecosystems and communities of plants.

{xtypo_info}Qeshm Island (2007){/xtypo_info}

Qeshm is the biggest island in the Persian Gulf near the straits of Hormoz. It is stretched closely along sides the south coastline (Hormozgan) of the Iranian mainland. The highest elevation is the 370 m in Bukhun mt. Also there is the gas and oiles in the center of the island. The length of island is 130 km and the widest part is 11- 35 km between Tabl and Salakh. The number of species and communities are 370 and 67 respectively. The Harra protected area, one of the biggest Harra habitat in Iran, is situated in this island.

The Qeshm is the biggest island in the Hormoz strait. Also the island is very important in view of speciation in long time. Due to human activities in this area, flora and vegetation should be preserved. Another importance of the island is Ghar- e Kharbas as a historical place.

{xtypo_info}Lut Desert (the vicinity of Shahdad) (2007){/xtypo_info}

The big desert of lut with the area of 5400 km2 is situated in the east and southeast of Iran .In a major part of this desert, there is no animal and vegetable life of any kind.The very beautiful and typical phenomena abound in this desert. This desert has a few universally unique specifications. Due to its vastness only a part of this area (in the vasinity of the historical city of shahdad), that includes the most of its phenomena is taken in to consideration.

{xtypo_info}Arasbaran Protected Area (2007){/xtypo_info}

Arasbaran Protected is the 9th Biosphere Reserved in Iran which covers an area of 78560 hectares with a circumference of 134 km. The altitude varies from ca. 256 m in the northern part to 2896 m which is the highest elevation in southern part of the area. Due to the importance of the area in having a rich flora (about 1000 taxa) and fauna specially presence of rare species such as Lyurus mlokosiewiczi in 1971 was conserved and UNESCO was listed it as a wildlife refuge since 1976.

{xtypo_info}Sabalan (2007){/xtypo_info}

Sabalan mount a laten volvano with the altitude of 4820 m, is Iran's third highest peek. This mountain that includes a collection of volcanic features as well as wonderful natural scenes is one of the invaluable natural properties of Iran. At the peak there's a crater lake of sweet water that is one of the highest sweet water lakes the world.

{xtypo_info}Khabr National Park and Ruchun Wildlife Refuge (2007){/xtypo_info}

Khabr Nation Park and Ruchun wild life refuge covers an area of 169200 hectares. Khabr is eleventh National Park of Iran which alone covers an area about 120000 hectares. The lowest elevation is 1000 and the highest 3845 m. The area has a rich flora (about 750 species) and about 120 endemic species. In view of phytogeography, the area situated between Irano-Turanian and Sahara-Sindian regions which includes several communities and various vegetation.

{xtypo_info}Alisadr Cave (2007){/xtypo_info}

Alisadr cave has too many water halls and wide variety of beautiful features such as stalactites, stalagmites and carst deposits with various forms. This with about 2400 M in cave boating is the biggest cave in the world from this respect. This cave has a lasting exploitation and protection management system.

{xtypo_info}Silk Route (Also as Silk Road) (2008){/xtypo_info}

The Silk Route is a corridor that is stretched mainly east to west and has connected all Asian and European civilizations to each other. It can play an important role at the present time. Here, the part which is located in the political geography of Iran is nominated for inscription in the World Heritage List (Tentative List).

{xtypo_info}The Natural-Historical Landscape of Izeh (2008){/xtypo_info}

This cultural-natural-historical site encompasses Ashkoft Salman, Koul Farah, Khoung Azhdar and many other properties dating back to 1300 to 700 years ago. In the rock paintings, the figures have been painted one after another in a way that they make a background for the perspective. It is the first time that women have been painted together with men in Iranian paintings.

{xtypo_info}The Zandiyeh Ensemble of Fars Province (2008){/xtypo_info}

The Ensemble of Karim Khani Buildings is considered as the fundamental structure of the old Shiraz from Zandiyeh