Mouteh National Park

Mouteh National Park lies in the northwest of Isfahan Province and the south of Markazi Province, near the city of Meymeh. Covering more than 205,000 hectares, it is one of the largest and oldest protected areas in Iran. Mouteh was registered as a wildlife refuge in 1355 (1976), and in 1395 (2016) parts of it were upgraded to national park status. The region has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters, and it is an important habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species.

Mouteh National Park is known as one of the most important habitats of the Persian gazelle and is home to the largest and purest population of this species. Besides gazelles, other species living here include wild sheep (mouflon), wild goat (ibex), leopard, wildcat, hyena, wolf, jackal, fox and wild boar. Bird diversity is also notable, including falcons, saker falcons, chukar partridge, see-see partridge, black-bellied sandgrouse and many kinds of passerines. In total, 25 mammal species, 88 bird species, 25 reptile species and one amphibian species have been identified in the area so far.

To reach Mouteh National Park, you can use the roads leading to the cities of Meymeh, Golpayegan and Shahin Shahr. The best time to visit is spring and early autumn, when the mild weather and green landscape create ideal conditions for nature tourism. When visiting the park, it is recommended to follow responsible ecotourism practices, including not damaging vegetation or wildlife, taking your litter with you and keeping to the designated routes.