"النقل الآلي الطرق في بلاد فارس. المجلد ١ - الطرق الرئيسية. ١٩٤٢" [و‎‎٢‎١‎٢] (٤٩٨/٤٢٨)

415
Route XIII—Section A.— contd.
4. Character of adjacent country—This section traverses
for the most part open moorland at an average altitude of nearly
5,000 feet. The high mountains of the ELBURZ range lie at an
average distance of 10 miles on one’s right hand (i.e., to the north).
Isolated hills or lower ranges may he near the road at infrequent
intervals (noted in the detailed report) but it cannot be said that
the road during this stage is commanded from them.
Cover from air, except at nullah crossings where the preci
pitous sides would afford shade, is completely lacking.
5. Climatic effects—ii) Rain falls intermittently in the
autumn, winter and spring and the weather does not become
settled until the latter half of May. Owing to the altitude of the
country traversed and the nature of the soil this stage is only
affected by heavy and continuous downpours and then chiefly at
nullah crossings.
(ii) Spates are frequent during the spring and local and
temporary stoppages of traffic may occur.
(iii) Snow falls between the end of December and the
middle of March but not to any great depth. It does not he for
long and local labour should be procurable to clear any short
stretches such as the summits of passes. Skid chains should be
carried by all vehicles at all times to ccpe with snow or mud.
(iv) The maximum temperatures (1913-1919 July) is 105*2
and the minimum (1913-1919 February) 19*5 Though these
figures relate to Tehran they should apply to the whole of this
section within the limits of a few degrees.
6 . Exceptional features, (i) Rive rs. There are no rivers to
be met with on this section.
(ii) Passes .—There are no high passes on this section nor
any long ascents
(iii) Fords —Are numerous. Spates are liable to render
these impassable for 12 hours.
(iv) Irish Bridges .—Occur to the number of several hund
reds. Spates or heavy rainfall may block these with heaps of
stone aid mud. Picks and shovels should be carried by all
vehicles.
(v) Bridges .—There are no bridges of any importance on
t his section.
(vi) Culverts and sudden depressions—These are numerous
broken springs" (To ' avoiTbroken springs drivers should take