Zagros MountainsFrom Wikipedia , the free encyclopediaJump to navigation Jump to searchDena , highest point in the Zagros MountainsQash - Mastan ( Dena ) 4 , 409 m ( 14 , 465 ft ) 1 , 600 [ 1 ] km ( 990 mi ) 240 [ 1 ] km ( 150 mi ) زاگرۆس The Zagros fold and thrust belt in green , with the Zagros Mountains to the rightIran , Iraq , Syria and TurkeyMiddle East or Western AsiaCarboniferousFold and thrust beltZagrosHighest p o i n t P e a k E l e v a t i o n D i m e n s i o nsLengthWidthNamingNative n a m e G e ographyLocationGeologyAge of rockMountain type The Zagros Mountains ( Persian : کوه ‌ های زاگرس ‎; Kurdish : چیاکانی زاگرۆس ‎, romanized : Çiyayên Zagros ;[ 2 ] [ 3 ] ) are a long mountain range in Iran , northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey . This mountain range has a total length of 1 , 600 km ( 990 mi ) . The Zagros mountain range begins in northwestern Iran and roughly follows Iran ' s western border , while covering much of southeastern Turkey and northeastern Iraq . From this border region , the range roughly follows Iran ' s coast on the Persian Gulf . It spans the whole length of the western and southwestern Iranian plateau , ending at the Strait of Hormuz . The highest point is Mount Dena , at 4 , 409 metres ( 14 , 465 ft ) . Contents 1 Geology 1 . 1 Type and age of rock 2 History 3 Climate 3 . 1 Glaciation 4 Flora and fauna 5 Religion 6 Gallery 7 See also 8 References 9 External links GeologySee also : Geology of IranSRTM Shaded Relief Anaglyph of Zagros MountainsThe Zagros Mountains from space , September 1992 [ 4 ] The Zagros fold and thrust belt was mainly formed by the collision of two tectonic plates , the Eurasian Plate and the Arabian Plate . [ 5 ] This collision mainly happened during the Miocene ( about 25 – 5 million years ago or mya ) and folded the entirety of the rocks that had been deposited from the Paleozoic ( 541 – 242 mya ) to the Cenozoic ( 66 mya – present ) in the passive continental margin on the Arabian Plate . However , the obduction of Neotethys oceanic crust during the Cretaceous ( 145 – 66 mya ) , and the continental arc collision in the Eocene ( 56 – 34 mya ) both had major effects on uplifts in the northeastern parts of the belt . The process of collision continues to the present , and as the Arabian Plate is being pushed against the Eurasian Plate , the Zagros Mountains and the Iranian Plateau are getting higher and higher . Recent GPS measurements in Iran [ 6 ] have shown that this collision is still active and the resulting deformation is distributed non - uniformly in the country , mainly taken up in the major mountain belts like Alborz and Zagros . A relatively dense GPS network which covered the Iranian Zagros [ 7 ] also proves a high rate of deformation within the Zagros . The GPS results show that the current rate of shortening in the southeast Zagros is ~ 10 mm / a ( 0 . 39 in / year ) , dropping to ~ 5 mm / a ( 0 . 20 in / year ) in the northwest Zagros . The north - south Kazerun strike - slip fault divides the Zagros into two distinct zones of deformation . The GPS results also show different shortening directions along the belt , normal shortening in the southeast , and oblique shortening in the northwest Zagros . The Zagros mountains were created around the time of the second ice age , [ citation needed ] which caused the tectonic collision , leading to its uniqueness . The sedimentary cover in the SE Zagros is deforming above a layer of rock salt ( acting as a ductile decollement with a low basal friction ) , whereas in the NW Zagros the salt layer is missing or is very thin . This different basal friction is partly responsible for the different topographies on either side of the Kazerun fault . Higher topography and narrower zone of deformation in the NW Zagros is observed whereas in the SE , deformation was spread more and a wider zone of deformation with lower topography was formed . [ 8 ] Stresses induced in the Earth ' s crust by the collision caused extensive folding of the preexisting layered sedimentary rocks . Subsequent erosion removed softer rocks , such as mudstone ( rock formed by consolidated mud ) and siltstone ( a slightly coarser - grained mudstone ) while leaving harder rocks , such as limestone ( calcium - rich rock consisting of the remains of marine organisms ) and dolomite ( rocks similar to limestone containing calcium and magnesium ) . This differential erosion formed the linear ridges of the Zagros Mountains . The depositional environment and tectonic history of the rocks were conducive to the formation and trapping of petroleum , and the Zagros region is an important area for oil production . Salt domes and salt glaciers are a common feature of the Zagros Mountains . Salt domes are an important target for petroleum exploration , as the impermeable salt frequently traps petroleum beneath other rock layers . There is also much water - soluble gypsum in the region . [ 9 ] Type and age of rockGlaciers on Dena The mountains are completely of sedimentary origin and are made primarily of limestone . In the Elevated Zagros or the Higher Zagros , the Paleozoic rocks can be found mainly in the upper and higher sections of the peaks of the Zagros Mountains , along the Zagros main fault . On both sides of this fault , there are Mesozoic rocks , a combination of Triassic ( 252 – 201 mya ) and Jurassic ( 201 – 145 mya ) rocks that are surrounded by Cretaceous rocks on both sides . The Folded Zagros ( the mountains south of the Elevated Zagros and almost parallel to the main Zagros fault ) is formed mainly of Tertiary rocks , with the Paleogene ( 66 – 23 mya ) rocks south of the Cretaceous rocks and then the Neogene ( 23 – 2 . 6 mya ) rocks south of the Paleogene rocks . The mountains are divided into many parallel sub - ranges ( up to 10 or 250 km ( 6 . 2 or 155 . 3 mi ) wide ) , and orogenically have the same age as the Alps . Iran ' s main oilfields lie in the western central foothills of the Zagros mountain range . The southern ranges of the Fars Province have somewhat lower summits , reaching 4 , 000 metres ( 13 , 000 feet ) . They contain some limestone rocks showing abundant marine fossils . [ 8 ] HistorySee also : Durupınar siteAncient Cobblestoned Pathway in Zagros , BehbahanA ceramic ware excavated in Zagros , Dalma TepeAncient Pathway in Zagros , Behbahan The Zagros Mountains were occupied by early humans since the Lower Paleolithic Period . The earliest human fossils discovered in Zagros belongs to Neanderthals and come from Shanidar Cave , Bisitun Cave , and Wezmeh Cave . The remains of ten Neanderthals , dating from around 65 , 000 - 35 , 000 years ago , have been found in the Shanidar Cave . [ 10 ] The cave also contains two later " proto - Neolithic " cemeteries , one of which dates back about 10 , 600 years and contains 35 individuals . [ 11 ] Coon who excavated Bisitun Cave described two hominid remains from the site , a maxilliary upper incisor and a radius shaft fragment , both from a Layer designated F +. These remains were listed but never described fully for the palaeontological community . When they were finally reexamined four decades later , the incisor was found to be of bovine , rather than hominid origin . [ 8 ] The radius fragment was found to show Neanderthal affinities , as it is mediolaterally expanded at the interosseus crest . Metrically , it is outside the range of variation of early anatomically modern humans , but in the range of Neanderthals and early Upper Paleolithic humans . [ 12 ] The radius fragment also showed signs of scavenging carnivores or rodents , such as jackal and fox , the remains of which were also found at the site . Wezmeh Child or Wezmeh 1 represented by an isolated unerupted human maxillary right premolar tooth ( P 3 or possibly P 4 ) of an individual between 6 – 10 years old . [ 13 ] Evidence from later Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic occupations come from Yafteh Cave , Kaldar Cave near Khoramabad , and Warwasi , Malaverd near Kermanshah , Kenacheh Cave in Kurdistan , Boof Cave in Fars and a number of other caves and rock shelters . [ 14 ] Location map of the Wezmeh Cave in the range of Neanderthals Signs of early agriculture date back as far as 9000 BC in the foothills of the mountains . [ 15 ] Some settlements later grew into cities , eventually named Anshan and Susa ; Jarmo is one archaeological site in this area . Some of the earliest evidence of wine production has been discovered in the mountains ; both the settlements of Hajji Firuz Tepe and Godin Tepe have given evidence of wine storage dating between 3500 and 5400 BC . [ 16 ] During early ancient times , the Zagros was the home of peoples such as the ancestors of the Sumerians and , later , the Kassites , Guti , Elamites and Mitanni , who periodically invaded the Sumerian and / or Akkadian cities of Mesopotamia . The mountains create a geographic barrier between the Mesopotamian Plain , which is in Iraq , and the Iranian Plateau . A small archive of clay tablets detailing the complex interactions of these groups in the early second millennium BC has been found at Tell Shemshara along the Little Zab . [ 17 ] Tell Bazmusian , near Shemshara , was occupied between 5000 BCE and 800 CE , although not continuously . [ 18 ] Climate The mountains contain several ecosystems . Prominent among them are the forest and forest steppe areas with a semi - arid climate . As defined by the World Wildlife Fund and used in their Wildfinder , the particular terrestrial ecoregion of the mid to high mountain area is Zagros Mountains forest steppe ( PA 0446 ) . The annual precipitation ranges from 400 – 800 mm ( 16 – 31 in ) and falls mostly in winter and spring . Winters are severe , with low temperatures often below − 25 ° C ( − 13 ° F ) . The region exemplifies the continental variation of the Mediterranean climate pattern , with a snowy winter and mild , rainy spring , followed by a dry summer and autumn . [ 19 ] − 0 . 2 ( 31 . 6 ) 1 . 4 ( 34 . 5 ) 6 . 4 ( 43 . 5 ) 12 . 2 ( 54 . 0 ) 19 . 3 ( 66 . 7 ) 24 . 8 ( 76 . 6 ) 29 . 7 ( 85 . 5 ) 29 . 6 ( 85 . 3 ) 25 . 6 ( 78 . 1 ) 17 . 7 ( 63 . 9 ) 9 . 7 ( 49 . 5 ) 2 . 7 ( 36 . 9 ) 14 . 9 ( 58 . 8 ) − 8 . 0 ( 17 . 6 ) − 6 . 8 ( 19 . 8 ) − 2 . 0 ( 28 . 4 ) 3 . 5 ( 38 . 3 ) 8 . 8 ( 47 . 8 ) 13 . 0 ( 55 . 4 ) 17 . 3 ( 63 . 1 ) 16 . 9 ( 62 . 4 ) 13 . 0 ( 55 . 4 ) 7 . 2 ( 45 . 0 ) 2 . 1 ( 35 . 8 ) − 4 . 3 ( 24 . 3 ) 5 . 1 ( 41 . 1 ) Source : [ 20 ] Climate data for Amadiya District , IraqMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearAverage high ° C ( ° F ) Average low ° C ( ° F ) Glaciation The mountains of the East - Zagros , the Kuh - i - Jupar ( 4 , 135 m ( 13 , 566 ft ) ) , Kuh - i - Lalezar ( 4 , 374 m ( 14 , 350 ft ) ) and Kuh - i - Hezar ( 4 , 469 m ( 14 , 662 ft ) ) do not currently have glaciers . Only at Zard Kuh and Dena some glaciers still survive . However , before the Last Glacial Period they had been glaciated to a depth in excess of 1 , 900 metres ( 1 . 2 miles ) , and during the Last Glacial Period to a depth in excess of 2 , 160 metres ( 7 , 090 feet ) . Evidence exists of a 20 km ( 12 mi ) wide glacier fed along a 17 km ( 11 mi ) long valley dropping approximately 1 , 600 m ( 5 , 200 ft ) along its length on the north side of Kuh - i - Jupar with a thickness of 350 – 550 m ( 1 , 150 – 1 , 800 ft ) . Under conditions of precipitation comparable to current climatic record - keeping , this size of glacier could be expected to form where the annual average temperature was between 10 . 5 and 11 . 2 ° C ( 50 . 9 and 52 . 2 ° F ) , but since conditions are expected to have been dryer during the period in which this glacier was formed , the temperature must have been lower . [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] Flora and faunaMain article : Zagros Mountains forest steppeA view of Persian oak forests that dominate the Zagros MountainsMen with a restrained lion in Iran . This photograph was taken by Antoin Sevruguin , ca . 1880 , [ 25 ] before the lion ' s extirpation in the country . Although currently degraded through overgrazing and deforestation , the Zagros region is home to a rich and complex flora . Remnants of the originally widespread oak - dominated woodland can still be found , as can the park - like pistachio / almond steppelands . The ancestors of many familiar foods , including wheat , barley , lentil , almond , walnut , pistachio , apricot , plum , pomegranate and grape can be found growing wild throughout the mountains . [ 26 ] Persian oak ( Quercus brantii ) ( covering more than 50 % of the Zagros forest area ) is the most important tree species of the Zagros in Iran . [ 27 ] Carcass of a leopard that was found near Zom village in the protected area of Kosalan and Shahu in 2019 Other floral endemics found within the mountain range include : Allium iranicum , Astragalus crenophila , Bellevalia kurdistanica , Cousinia carduchorum , Cousinia odontolepis , Echinops rectangularis , Erysimum boissieri , Iris barnumiae , Ornithogalum iraqense , Scrophularia atroglandulosa , Scorzonera kurdistanica , Tragopogon rechingeri , and Tulipa kurdica . [ 28 ] The Zagros are home to many threatened or endangered organisms , including the Zagros Mountains mouse - like hamster ( Calomyscus bailwardi ) , the Basra reed - warbler ( Acrocephalus griseldis ) and the striped hyena ( Hyena hyena ) . Luristan newt ( Neurergus kaiseri ) - vulnerable endemic to the central Zagros mountains of Iran . The Persian fallow deer ( Dama dama mesopotamica ) , an ancient domesticate once thought extinct , was rediscovered in the late 20 th century in Khuzestan Province , in the southern Zagros . Also , Wild Goats can be found almost all over the Zagros mountain range . Seasonal vegetation cover of the mountain top of Dasht - Kahou , Taq - e Bostan , Kermanshah , Zagros In the late 19 th century , the Asiatic lion ( Panthera leo persica ) [ 29 ] inhabited the southwestern part of the mountains . It is now extinct in this region . [ 30 ] Religion The entrance to the ancient Mesopotamian underworld was believed to be located in the Zagros Mountains in the far east . [ 31 ] A staircase led down to the gates of the underworld . [ 31 ] The underworld itself is usually located even deeper below ground than the Abzu , the body of freshwater which the ancient Mesopotamians believed lay deep beneath the earth . [ 31 ] Gallery A road through the mountains in Iraqi Kurdistan Wild Goat Herd , Zagros , Behbahan Fritillaria Imperialis in Dena , Iranian ZagrosMount Oshtorankuh See alsoAlborz MountainsAl Hajar Mountains , technically a continuation of the Zagros in the Arabian PeninsulaCaucasus M o u ntainsKurdistanKurdsMount AlvandMount ArbabaMount DerakMount ElbrusMount JudiQaleh gorikhtehSilakhor PlainTaurus MountainsWildlife of IranWildlife of IraqWildlife of Turkey Kurdistan portalReferences