Turquoise pond
Clear water, ruins reflected.
Babak.golparian — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ali nikkhesal61 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Safa.daneshvar — CC0 · Mehrdad Jamali firouzabadi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Stefan Bschorer — CC BY-SA 4.0
Takht-e Soleyman is an archaeological site in West Azerbaijan dating to the Sasanian era, midway between Urmia and Hamadan near the town of Takab, about 400 km west of Tehran. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003. The fortified site stands on a hill formed by the outflow of a calcium-rich spring pond. The citadel holds the remains of Adur Gushnasp, a Sasanian fire temple and one of the three great temples of that age, partly rebuilt as a mosque under the Ilkhanids. The site took its biblical name after the Muslim conquest, and folk tales say King Solomon created the pond. At its heart lies a wide pond of clear turquoise water mirroring the ruined walls and stone gateways. A stone wall with towers and an arched gate rings the hill, with green plains and hills around it. Nearby is a deep crater known as Solomon's Prison. The site is high and the weather turns cool fast, so bring a jacket. Keep back from the pond's edge and do not touch the ancient walls. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to Iran and warns that British nationals risk detention, so check official guidance before making any plans. We could not confirm the current state of this site.
Clear water, ruins reflected.
Towers and an arched gate.
A deep crater nearby.
Near Takab, West Azerbaijan, Iran
The name came after the Muslim conquest; tales say Solomon made the pond.
It holds one of the three great Sasanian fire temples.