Som Cave

Som Cave, one of Iran's most remarkable natural wonders, lies near Khajeh Ghanbar Mountain (the Imamzadeh at the top of the mountain) and the Namij area of Nam-Nik village, in Kalpush District of Miami County. Located about a two-hour walk from the village, it is considered the second deepest cave in the country. Its limestone rock allowed it to form and expand gradually as water flowed through the stone. In the local language, the word "Som" means a hollow or a cave, and its entrance is located within an ancient site.

This fascinating but dangerous cave has become an important destination for nature tourism, mountaineering and caving enthusiasts. So far, 21 pits have been discovered in it, 17 of which were identified by the Qabus Gonbad mountaineering group. Som Cave reaches a depth of 375 metres, and pottery remains and human skeletons dating from ancient times have been found inside it. There are also traces of human presence in the first passages, which adds to the archaeological importance of the site.

The entrance of the cave has a narrow, difficult passage known as the "crab crawl". Unlike similar passages, its narrowness is continuous and extremely challenging; it is not possible to turn your head, and movement is only possible in one direction. Besides the difficulty of the route, the low temperature inside the cave is another of its hazards. From the 19th pit onward, the air temperature drops to about 6 degrees Celsius, and without suitable equipment and a plan for keeping the body warm, cavers cannot continue. These factors mean that Som Cave requires professional equipment and a high level of caving experience.