Kabir Kuh (Persian: کبیرکوه; Kurdish: کڤەر -Kiver) is one of the long ranges of the Zagros Mountains near the border of Lurestan and Ilam provinces in Ilam province, Iran.[2] Covering an area of 9,500 km2 (3,700 sq mi), Kabir Kuh stretches 175 km (109 mi) in length and 48–80 km (30–50 mi) in width along the Zagros Mountains in the northwest–southeast direction. It begins about 20 km (12 mi) south of Ilam and stretches down to the vicinity of Andimeshk in Khuzestan. Made mainly by Cretaceous sedimentary rocks,[3] the Kabir Kuh range consists of a large number of mountains, including Shah Ahmad, Tabriz, Kaleh-bad, Filman, Damaghey-e Anar, Rivasan, Puneh, Sabzkhani, Zarrin, Golgol that are covered by snow and ice all year round. Its highest peak is Kan Seifi with 2,790 m (9,150 ft) elevation, 50 km (31 mi) south-east of Ilam. Kabir Kuh runs along the Seymareh River, which becomes Karkheh when joins the Kashkan river before reaching the border of Ilam province and Khuzestan province. Kabir Kuh divides the mountainous region in western Iran into two regions generally referred as Piškuh (eastern side) and Poštkuh (western side), the latter virtually coinciding with Ilam.[4][5][6] In prehistoric times, one of the largest known landslides occurred on the north-eastern slope of Kabir Kouh, moving across the Seymareh River.

Kabir Kuh
Kabir Kuh ranges topographic map
Relief of the Kabir Kuh range (outlined in green)
Highest point
Elevation2,790 m (9,150 ft)[1]
Coordinates33°13′16″N 47°06′18″E / 33.22111°N 47.10500°E / 33.22111; 47.10500
Naming
Native nameکبیرکوه (Persian)
English translationThe Great Mountain
Geography
LocationIlam province
Geology
Mountain typeMountain range

The eastern side is dominated by steep slopes where water and wooded valleys abound. The western side is, however, quite dry but rich in oil reservoirs and underground resources.[6]

View of a landscape; a small desert hillside is in the foreground on the right, with a scrubby tree growing on it. In the middle distance on the left is a green, vegetated ridge. In the further distance (left to center) are the mountains, with long flat layers of rock lying along the top, their slope dipping gently to the right. The sky over it all is very blue.
Kabir Kuh ranges near Darreh Shahr

References

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  1. ^ ʿAbbās Jaʿfari, Gitāšenāsi-e irān, 3 vols., I, Kuhhā-ye Irān; II, Rudhā va rud-nāma-ye Irān; III, Dāʾerat-al-maʾāref-e joḡrāfiāʾi-e Irān, 2nd ed., Tehran, 1999-2005.
  2. ^ Microsoft Encarta World Atlas, 2001, Microsoft Corporation
  3. ^ Geological Map of Iran, National Geoscience Database of Iran, www.ngdir.ir
  4. ^ Majdodin, Keyvani (September 15, 2009). "Kabir-kuh". IranicaOnline. Encyclopædia Iranica 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  5. ^ "منطقه حفاظت شده کبیر کوه ، ایلام". کویرها و بیابان‌های ایران (in Persian). کویرها و بیابان‌های ایران. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  6. ^ a b "کبیرکوه". سیری در ایران (in Persian). سیری در ایران. Retrieved 19 September 2015.