Chah Ghar Afus (Afus Cave Shaft)

Chah Ghar Afus (the Afus Cave Shaft) is located in Daran County, Isfahan Province, on the slopes of the Qebleh Kuh mountain range. To reach the cave, first drive from Daran County toward Aligudarz and, after 28 kilometres, you will arrive at the Miandasht area. About one kilometre past Miandasht, a road branches off to the left and, after 9 kilometres, brings you to the village of Afus. With its natural and mountain scenery, the Afus area is an attractive destination for caving and nature-tourism enthusiasts.

The cave entrance consists of two twin shafts, one of which, after about 6 metres, opens into a larger shaft. This large shaft continues to a depth of 12 metres and reaches a chamber with an area of 30 square metres. Around the chamber you can see rough, milky-coloured cave formations. At the end of the chamber there is a sloping passage about one metre long, leading to another narrow shaft 8 metres deep. This second shaft forms the end of the cave. About 500 metres away, after crossing two valleys in the direction of the Qebleh Kuh peak, there is another shaft. It is cylindrical, with a base diameter of 6 metres, and widens after about 7 metres; its bottom is covered by a mass of snow and ice. This snow remains permanently in this part of the cave, and it is known as a snow pit (barfchal). Because the area is karstic, there may also be another shaft or cavity beneath the snow.

Reaching the shaft entrance requires about one hour of hiking, and because of the steep, rocky slopes the route calls for good physical fitness and safety equipment. The best time to visit the cave is spring and summer, when the trails are drier and crossing the rocky areas is easier. During your visit, it is very important to follow the principles of responsible nature tourism, including using safety equipment, respecting nature and not leaving any litter, because the cave has a karstic structure and deep shafts, and moving through it without proper preparation can be dangerous.