Painted Mountains of Aladaglar

Striped mineral-coloured hills outside Tabriz, like a Persian Painted Desert

The Painted Mountains, sometimes called Aladaglar (Persian for "coloured mountains"), are a range of low hills several hours' drive southeast of Tabriz, near the town of Mahneshan in Zanjan province. Mineral deposits in the sedimentary rock have weathered into stripes of vivid red, mustard yellow, white, and pale green, producing landscapes that look genuinely unreal in good light.

Reaching them requires a long day trip with a hired car or driver. The best light is around sunrise and sunset, when the angle of the sun deepens every colour. Combine with a stop at the nearby Behestan Castle if you have time. The area is undeveloped — bring water and food.

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A story
The bands of red, ochre, yellow, white, and green come from iron oxides, copper salts, and sulphur compounds laid down in shallow lakes more than 100 million years ago. After every rainfall the colours brighten — locals say the mountains "wake up" in the spring, when the contrast is at its most intense.

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