The rock walls
Stepped and coloured.
Khoshhat — CC BY 4.0 · Khoshhat — CC BY 4.0 · Khoshhat — CC BY 4.0 · Hardscarf — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tominerbil — CC BY-SA 4.0
Rawanduz Canyon is a deep rocky gorge near the town of Rawanduz in the north of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, ringed by the Zagros mountains. People also call it the Kharand canyon, and the town itself looks down on it from a high rocky ledge. Rawanduz grew up in the 10th century, and its name means fortress of the Rawand, after a Kurdish family that ruled the area. Centuries earlier the area lay on a trade route to Nineveh. The Korek, Hindren, Zozik and Bradost mountains surround the town, so it seems to hang above the gorge. The canyon drops in stepped rock walls of yellow, brown and green, with a small river running between trees at the bottom and a winding mountain road around it. From the terraces on the rim you see the whole depth of the gorge, and you can ride a cable car over it or go down to walk by the water. Rawanduz is about 1 km away in a straight line, Bekhal Waterfall about 3 km and Gali Ali Beg waterfall about 13 km. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to this area, so check official guidance before planning.
Stepped and coloured.
Winding round the gorge.
On the rim.
Rawanduz, Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
From the terraces on the town's rim above the gorge.
In spring when the hills are green, or in autumn.