Margoon Village

Margoon is a beautiful summer pasture village in Fars Province, located in the Central District of Sepidan County on the slopes of the Zagros Mountains. The village lies about 48 km from Sepidan and 149 km from Shiraz, and at an altitude of around 2,000 m above sea level it is one of the cool highland areas of the region. In the past, Margoon was one of the camping grounds of the region's nomads, and over time it changed from a summer pasture into a permanent settlement. Because it is built on a mountain slope, the village has a compact, terraced layout, and a large part of its surroundings is made up of apple and walnut orchards and natural Zagros vegetation. Farming and animal husbandry are the main activities of the villagers, who produce wheat, barley, apples, walnuts and a variety of dairy products; carpet weaving and jajim (flatweave) weaving are also among the activities of the village women.

With its lush pastures, surface water, river and mountain scenery, Margoon is considered one of the nature tourism destinations of Fars Province, and Margoon Waterfall is among the most important sights of the area. The waterfall lies in a gorge beyond the village. About 70 m high and about 100 m wide, it presents a series of cascading streams among rocky cliffs; water flows from cracks in the rock and from numerous springs, and then joins the river. Around the waterfall and the village you can see meadows covered with fritillaries (crown imperial-type nodding tulips), wild flowers and colorful hollyhocks, alongside trees and shrubs such as wild hawthorn, Caucasian hackberry (daghdaghan), wild pistachio (baneh), barberry and blackberry. Apple and walnut orchards also form part of the natural landscape, and together with this vegetation, the Margoon River gives the setting a special charm. Other natural attractions in and around the village include the Margoon River, Margoon Protected Area, Ranj Peak, Pooladkaf Ski Resort and Alvandi Gorge (Tang-e Alvandi).

To reach Margoon, you can travel from Shiraz toward Sepidan, and then on to Ardakan and Margoon; from the town of Ardakan to Margoon Waterfall is about 50 km. Another route approaches from the Yasuj side: after reaching the Yasuj–Eqlid road, at kilometer 29 signposts mark the way to the waterfall, and the road for vehicles continues to about one kilometer from the waterfall. The final stretch is covered on foot along a stone-paved path and concrete steps. The access routes are mountainous, and in the cold season and during snowfall they may be restricted or closed. The best time to visit Margoon Village is spring and summer. In spring, the blooming of fritillaries and wild flowers makes the landscape stunning, and in summer the cool air of the region is ideal for nature tourism. By contrast, autumn and winter are cold and snowy, and access to the waterfall is sometimes difficult or impossible. Because parts of the area lie within a protected zone, visitors should avoid damaging vegetation, leaving litter, leaving the marked paths, and engaging in high-risk activities on the rocky terrain, and by practicing responsible nature tourism they should help preserve Margoon's natural environment for future generations.