Azna Snow Tunnel

The Azna Snow Tunnel is one of the most popular attractions in Azna, in Lorestan Province. At more than 800 metres long, it is considered one of the most mesmerizing mountain landscapes in Iran. The snow tunnel is located in Azna County, near the village of Komandan, in the Oshtorankuh mountain range. Azna County lies 82 kilometres from Khorramabad and has a population of more than 80,000.

The snow tunnel, one of Azna's natural wonders, is 10 metres wide and 2.5 to 3 metres high. It was formed naturally by thousands of tonnes of snow and ice piling up in one of the valleys on the slopes of Oshtorankuh, in the village of Komandan, in a valley called Azna Darreh. In the cold season, heavy snowfall in the mountains builds up a mass of snow. When it melts in spring and water flows through the mass, corridor-like spaces, or beautiful but very dangerous tunnels, form at the bottom of the valley's cleft. The possibility of the snow tunnel collapsing raises the risk of visiting it, yet most tourists still go inside to have an extraordinary and unique experience.

This site is one of the most dangerous sightseeing areas; last year several people were trapped under collapsed snow. Visitors to this natural heritage site should therefore follow safety precautions to protect their own lives and those of other visitors. Every year this remarkable natural phenomenon hosts many tourists from across Lorestan Province and neighbouring provinces.

Because of the area's particular climate, the Azna Snow Tunnel can only be visited in spring, summer and early autumn. As you step inside and move further in, the air temperature drops and drops of cold water drip on you from the ceiling. At the top of the snow tunnel, visitors have a strange sensation: they can no longer feel their feet, yet sweat forms on their foreheads.