'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎243v] (491/610)

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440
Communica
tions.
Alternative
Routes.
and 100 animals from Sena, 2 miles West on the way to Kalar-
dasht.
(а) From Valatrh, stage 2, to Gachisar, route No. 5, is 6
miles. For 4 miles the path below the Varingru junction is
narrow, precipitous, and difficult for animals. It is seldom
used by ‘ charvadars.’
( б ) From Nisind, stage 3, to Baladeh, Route No. 3, in 1
stage.
(c) From Nisind via Kamarbun, Turkubashm ridge to
Duna and Kandavan, Route No. 5, in 1J stages.
(d) From Mikhsaz, in stage 4, to Baladeh, Route No. 3, in
1 stage.
(e) From Mikhsaz, in stage 4, via Pul to Kujur, Route No. 3>
in | stage. (See Route No. 3 Communications.)
( 1 ) Route No. 5 is the main route and much easier.
( 2 ) From Arsinkirud, in stage 5, a track goes North to the
Caspian in 1 long stage.
Route No. 5. From Tehran to Chains via Kandavan.
This route is slightly longer than Nos. 3 and 4. Like them
it is a summer route, but lies along valleys and is much easier.
It is the 3rd main trade route from Tehran to Mazandaran.
It is the same as Route No. 4 to Ushan, stage 1. It then
turns North-West up a side valley by Ahar to the Aharbashm
ridge, the watershed The boundary between adjacent drainage basins. between the Jajarud and Laura (i. e.,
Karaj) basins, and descends to Shahristanak in stage 2. It lies
through the Laura valleys to Gachisar, stage 3, traverses Kan
davan in stage 4, and strikes the upper valleys which form the
'Chalus.
It crosses to the East (right) side of the valley to Valiabad
stage 4, and keeps along the slopes above the Chalus gorge
until it descends by the Hazar Cham, in stage 5, to the river
and follows it down to the sea.
Gradients .—Ascent and descent of Aharbashm ridge in stag
2 are easy.
Kandavan Ridge is only 1600' on the South, 1000' on North
above the valleys ; its zigzags are steep but the climb is shorter
and easier than over ridges crossed by other routes. The
Hazar Cham descent in stage 5 is very steep. The track
averages 10 ' in width and the surface generally is fair, and over