Chort Village

Chort is a village in Germab Rural District, Chahardangeh District, Sari County, Mazandaran Province. It lies in a mountainous, forested area on the middle slopes of the Alborz range. With a population of about 1,008 (2016 census), it is one of the villages in northern Iran with unspoiled nature and valuable tourism potential. The road link runs from Sari towards Kiasar. The village is surrounded by dense forests and offers beautiful natural scenery. A forest route connects it to the Hezarjarib area of Neka, and geographically it neighbours the villages of Sika, Vernam, Salah and Karnam.

Thanks to its natural setting, Chort is considered one of the tourist destinations of Sari County. One of the most important natural attractions nearby is Chort Lake (also known as Mianshe), which lies about 10 kilometres from the village in the surrounding forests and offers a striking and unusual view in the heart of the woods. The lake was formed by an earthquake and landslide in 1318 (Solar Hijri) and covers about 2.5 hectares, combining water with the pristine forests around it. The main occupations of the villagers are animal husbandry and farming, and in some cases truck driving and transporting timber from the forests.

To reach Chort, visitors usually travel along the main Sari–Kiasar road and, after the paved section, take mountain and forest side roads to the village. The nature trails around the village follow dirt tracks and forest footpaths, offering the chance to walk and explore in the heart of the forest. The best times to visit are spring, summer and autumn, when the weather is pleasant and the landscape is lush green or richly coloured. During your visit, it is important to practise responsible nature tourism, including protecting the forests, taking your rubbish with you and respecting the way of life of the local people.