Kolah Ghazi National Park

Kolah Ghazi National Park lies 36 kilometers southeast of the city of Isfahan. Covering about 47,262 hectares, it is one of the largest and oldest protected areas in Iran. The park includes two main mountain ranges, Kolah Ghazi and Sheydan, which enclose a variety of plains and valleys. The name "Kolah Ghazi" ("Judge's Hat") comes from the distinctive shape of a peak in the area, which resembles the hats worn by judges in the past. From the Safavid era to the Qajar era, the area was used as a royal hunting ground, and in 1997 (1376 in the Solar Hijri calendar) it was registered as a national park.

The park is home to a wide range of wildlife, including wild goat and ibex, wild sheep (mouflon and urial), gazelle, Persian leopard, wildcat, caracal, wolf, hyena, red fox and jackal. So far, 44 species of birds, 11 species of reptiles and one species of amphibian have also been identified in the area. The park's vegetation includes 252 species belonging to 192 genera and 46 families, among them wormwood (Artemisia), cornflower, wild poppy, thyme, wild tulip, wild rue (esfand), camelthorn, tangeras, wild almond, fig and wild pistachio (baneh).

To reach Kolah Ghazi National Park, you can take the Isfahan–Shahreza road. The nearest point of the park is about 36 kilometers from the city of Isfahan. The best time to visit is spring and early autumn, when the mild weather and lush nature make for ideal conditions for nature tourism. When visiting the park, please practice responsible nature tourism: do not damage the vegetation or wildlife, take your rubbish with you, and stay on the designated trails.