The Saholan Cave, has the potential to take in thousands of tourists and nature lovers each year.
Saholan is a beautiful water cave in Iran, second only to the Ali Sadr Cave, which is the world’s largest. The cave’s scenic view makes it very special for nature lovers and eco-tourists alike.
The Saholan cave is located near a namesake village, 43 km to the east of Mahabad, in West Azerbaijan Province. The cave, which sits on a small hill of limestone, has two entrances and has been created by the corrosive effect of water.
Saholan or Sehollan Cave is located approximately 150 kilometers from the city of Urmia and 40 kilometers from the city of Mahabad. Saholan, which in the Kurdish language means ‘frost,’ is Iran’s second largest water cave and spans an area of 600 square meters. The ceiling of the cave is 50 meters high and its water has a depth of 30 to 32 meters. The temperature inside the cave is between 10 to 15 degrees centigrade lower than the outside. The cave has eye-catching stalactites and stalagmites. Pottery from the Parthian era and a copper goblet from the Ilkhanid era have been found in the cave suggesting that Saholan has been used by people since ancient times. The cave has been registered as one of Iran’s National Natural Attractions. Since the cave was located near several villages in the past, people used it as a place for hunting and shelter during the invasion strike. For example, in the dry part of the cave, there are graves that are associated with the time of the Russian invasion of the area and the shelter of the people here.
Geomorphological evidence collected from within the cave suggests that it has been formed under phreatic conditions by still water and not running water. Throughout the cave there are horizontal ledges of calcite deposits along the walls that are indicative of higher water levels in the past.
Since there are a large number of pigeon nests inside the cave, it is also called “Laneh Kabotar” which means the nest of pigeons. Jacques de Morgan, a French traveler, discovered the cave for the first time with the help of local people. Being located in the middle of high mountains and deep valleys has added extra beauty to this marvelous natural phenomenon. Saholan cave has two openings which are covered with some huge trees and inside the cave is very humid and dark, though, with the help of hundreds of spotlights, visibility is provided. One can easily move through the lake using boat and other parts can also be visited on foot. On this journey which is full of mysteries, tourists pass through narrow corridors and three large and small pools to reach the lake. The total area of the cave is estimated about 2 hectares, which, 300 meters of water route and 250 meters of the dry route have been discovered and organized so far. The wonders and beauties of Saholan Cave cannot be expressed through language. To exit the cave, there is another dry route and one can easily walk through it to the ground.
Tourists need to screw out 106 stairs of concrete and 45 m to the depths of the earth to reach the first lake inside the cave. At the very first steps, visitors can see the temperature change inside the cave with air, because the temperature inside the cavity varies between 10 ° C and 13 ° C, and the moisture content of the cavern is 70-80%. The lower the air becomes, the more humid the moisture becomes, and even the slight smell of sulfur may reach your mouth. The dark space of the cave with large spotlights that are placed in different parts is bright and beautiful.
At the bottom of the Saholan Cave, tourists will find a great lake in front of them. In order to be able to circle in different parts of the cave, they have to board the boats so that they can access different parts and see different landmarks. The elementary lake of the cave is about 200 square meters in size, reaching a height of 50 meters from the ceiling. The water is clear and transparent, and whenever a drop of water from the ceiling drop into it, ting sounds wraps off into the cave’s space and takes visitors to the fantasy world. Try to listen to the surroundings while you’re on a boat on the lake, and watch it carefully so you can see the secrets and beauties of the little ones. If you look good around the corner, you will see pigeon nests that are either flying or sleeping on their eggs and waiting for their chicks to come out, but pigeons are not the only creatures inside the cave. If you look carefully around you, you will notice the presence of another animal in the darker and wetter areas watching the tourists’ tour, and occasionally checking with its loud screams. The bat is another animal in Saholan Cave and has created a different atmosphere in the cave.
The second part of the cave is its peninsula, consisting of three small and large ponds and the fourth and largest lake of the cave. The 500-meter lake is the last point visitors can access by boat and the next discovered areas are not suitable for visiting tourists. As rowers and guides say, from the fourth lake, about 200 meters further, it was also discovered by cavers, but since it has narrow tunnels and a very dark space, it is not possible for tourists to enter it, and only divers can access that point.
Another attraction that attracts our attention all along the lake to the end of the fourth lake is the variety of forms that have been created over millions of years with water scum on calcareous rocks, with shapes of elephant’s feet, grape cluster Butterfly, hunting eagle, landing aircraft, sea turtle, turtle, octopus … have created a special beauty. However, if you raise your creativity a little and use the imagery of your mind, you can also find new forms and images among the stalagmites hanging inside the cave.
