TEHRAN—A selection of eight natural properties across West Azarbaijan province has recently been inscribed on the national heritage list.The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts announced the inscriptions on Tuesday in separate letters to the governor-general of the northwestern province, CHTN reported.Waterfalls, hot water spas, and a cave are among the properties added to the list.West Azarbaijan embraces a variety of lush natural sceneries, cultural heritage sites, and museums including the UNESCO sites of Takht-e Soleyman and Qareh Klise (St.
Thaddeus Monastery), Teppe Hasanlu, and the ruined Bastam Citadel.The region was home to several ancient civilizations.
According to Britannica, it was conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC and was named Atropatene after one of Alexander’s generals, Atropates, who established a small kingdom there.
Ultimately, the area returned to Persian (Iranian) rule under the Sasanians in the 3rd century CE.Having an opulent tourist circuit with 26 UNESCO World Heritage sites, of which the vast Hyrcanian Forest and Lut Desert are among the natural properties, Iran seeks to acquire a greater share of the global tourism industry by 2025.ABU/AM