'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎58v] (121/610)

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96
natural
features of the
Caspian
provinces.
Division Into
4 zones.
Mountain zone
from the
watershed to
8,000 “ Kuh "
or ‘ YailSq.*
Forest zone
from 8,000' to
the Lowlands.
*' MIyanband ”
below 4,000'.
The width of the belt of vegetation varies considerably, e.g. t
the l Chalus river flows almost due North, and it extends for 55
miles up to its sources, whereas in Nur, owing to the
proximity of the ridge North of the Nur river to the coast,
it is reduced to 30 miles.
Its minimum width may be reckoned at 30 miles and its
maximum at 60.
This area constitutes the Caspian provinces geographically,
as distinct from the political division into administrative pro
vinces which in some districts extends further South.
The scenery along the shores of the Caspian is usually of
the same character and soon becomes monotonous. A
narrow strip of sand is bordered on one side by the sea, on the
other by a level belt of varying width, sometimes wooded and
sometimes cleared, backed by forest clad hills ascending to the
bare ridges of the Elburz mountains.
There are therefore 2 4 separate .zones :—
From the watershed to 9,000' or 8,000' consists of rock and
shale with Alpine plants and grass in summer. This zone
is called ‘ Kuh ’ (mountain). It contains no villages but from
June to September affords grazing for large flocks of sheep.
Small isolated oaktrees begin between 9,000' and 8,000'
and woods at about 7,000.' The trees become bigger and the
undergrowth more luxuriant as lower levels are reached, and
the foothills and valleys between 2,000' and the lowlands are
covered with thick forest usually with a dense undergrowth of
box, thorns, and ferns.
The whole, forms a most impenetrable forest and mountain
region practically impassable except along the deep defiles of
rivers running from South to North.
Small villages are found in the valleys between 7,500' and
4,000' with wheat and barley cultivation, but these highlands
are richest in summer pastures for sheep and cattle ; the sheep
go beyond to the £ Kuh,” but the cattle remain in the upper
forest levels. The intermediate sections of the valleys below
4,000' except those of the Nikah, Tejen, and Talar, in which
rice is cultivated up to 4,000', are ravines devoid of cultivable
land. The Persian name for these sections is “ Miyanband ”
(midfile hills), and they are the spring and autumn pastures.
1 c./. the Talar valley.
If or a list of trees see Chapter VII, para, (d), p. 279.
2 Vide Curzon’s Persia, Chapter XIII.