'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎250r] (504/706)

QASR-I-SHlRlN
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Geography ; boundaries .—The district is divided into two portions ; that in
the Turkish territory, and that in Persian territory. These portions will,
as far as possible, be treated separately. Commencing from the north with
the Persian Section, the boundaries taken are, east, the main line of moun
tains formed by Bamu, Bishikan, Biznan, Gazaviz, and the line of hills
bounding the plain of Sar-i-Pul (or Sarpul) to the east, known as Kuchuk
Bari — Kal-i-Daud, Kal-i-Shahin, and Enzal. South, the plain of Gulin,
the Sarkash mountain, Sarab-i-Mirt, and Anarak plaiij and mountain.
West the assumed and locally accepted frontier from south of the Baghcheh
mountain to Hurin and Shaikan, where it meets the eas f ern boundary.
Turkish Section .—The boundaries treated here are, east, the frontier as
above detailed, west, the Diala river, north, the Diala river, and south,
the Baghcheh and Qatar hills.
All these boundaries are physical features of the country. The tract
is practically identical (except for Zuhab and Bishiva, not here included)
with the old Pashaliq of Zuhab, and the older province of Huluvan (Holwan).
This report fills in the gap left between my former report on Sulaimanieh
district and the Report on Pusht-i-Kuh by Captain D. L. R. Lorimer I A.
1908.
Physical geography. —(1) Persian Side .—- The main geographical feature
of the country is the regularity of the ranges N. W.—S. E., each range
westward being of less altitiude than its eastern neighbour. The last regular
and high ranges westward are, taking from the N. W., Bamu and Dalahu.
Farther west, commencing from the Hulvan river, is the composite range
of Sumbulak and Bazi Daraz. Farther west again and rising three miles
N. of Tangab village is a range, the most northerly portion of which is
called Gamakawu continuing S. E. under the names Dar-i-Baru, Kuh-i-Shah,
and Shak Maidanto Anarak and so on to Luristan. Both Bazi Daraz and
Gamakawu ranges increase in height as they go southwards and eventually
join the intricate system which forms the northern frontiers of Luristan.
The district, generally speaking, forms a bay in the Zagros mountain
system,—by which the Hulvan and Quretu rivers are permitted to escape
—in which the mountain system is broken up and sinks into insignificance.
At the eastern extremity, or head, of this bay, is the Zuhab plain. Farther
south the mountain system again advances to the line set by Kara Dagh
and Kirkuk ranges in Turkish territory, and takes with it the frontier line
westwards.
All mountains, as they approach to the Hulvan river, decrease in height,
except the Ak Dagh, which is highest at its southern extremity. The
plains west of Sumbulak, Bamu, and Daridivan are cut up by ridges of grey
sand-stone cropping up from a heavy red soil, overlaid in places with gravel.
This soil is itself intersected in all directions by ravines, so that the so-called
plains of Ganumban and Bajlan are in reality a mass of gullies and
small hills. The Sumbulak mountain is almost entirely gypsum, as is
also Gamakawu.
(2) Turkish Side .—The country on the frontier, after the mass of the
Karadagh in the extreme north, is a depression, a plain as seen from afar,
but cut up by small hills and ravines north of Khaniqln, where a gravelly
soil replaces the red soil and grey sandstones of the most northerly parts,
and the country becomes undulating.