TEHRAN – Iran has added nabkhas located near the city of Kashan in central Isfahan province to its national list of natural heritage sites, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts said on Tuesday.

Ali Darabi, a deputy minister and head of cultural heritage at the ministry, notified Isfahan Governor-General Mehdi Jamalinejad of the registration in an official letter, Miras Aria reported on Tuesday.

Nabkhas are geomorphological formations created when wind-blown sand accumulates around vegetation, forming mounds that retain moisture and support underground ecosystems. They are found in arid regions of Iran, particularly along desert margins.

The nabkhas, also known as inverted flowerpots, are located east of Ab Shirin village. They are formed through a combination of climatic factors including wind, moisture and sandy soils, together with salt-tolerant vegetation, and reach heights of up to four meters.

Darabi’s notification also confirmed the national registration of several other natural sites in Kashan county, including the fossil landscape of Ashkoft in Chal Ghareh village, the Niasar waterfall, and an ancient plane tree in Eshaqabad village.

According to the notification, all registered sites will henceforth be subject to full protection and supervision by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.

AM