People, Travel
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Top Attraction Closed Due to Damage

Top Attraction Closed Due to Damage
Top Attraction Closed Due to Damage

Cultural heritage officials of Mazandaran Province issued a statement on Tuesday banning all visits to Badab-e Soort Natural Springs until further notice due to damage inflicted on the area.

The natural site comprises a range of stepped travertine terrace formations created over thousands of years as flowing water from two mineral hot springs cooled and deposited carbonate minerals on the mountainside.

However, carelessness on the part of officials and tourists has caused considerable damage to the site and the environment, flattening the stepped terraces and polluting what little water still flows from the springs, news website Khabar Online reported.

Badab-e Soort was inscribed on the National Heritage List in 2008, making it Iran’s second natural site after Mount Damavand to make it on the list.

Despite the area being one of Iran’s most visited natural sites, officials failed  to fence off the area and place guards to ensure tourists would not venture too far into the fragile heritage site.

Furthermore, protecting and preserving heritages are not acculturated in Iran, making incidents like this far too common an occurrence to be called an accident.

Activists had warned cultural heritage officials about the potential fallout of unregulated tours to the area, but their warnings fell on deaf ears.

 

Financialtribune.com