Golestan Province

“Hyrcanian Forests & Cultural Heritage”

CATEGORY

YEAR

2002-2026

LOCATION

Golestan Province, Iran

An aerial or elevated view of undulating green rolling hills under the warm glow of sunset, with a small group of grazing animals visible on a slope. Photograph by Mohammad Ataei.

A scenic view of the rolling hills in Turkmen Sahra, Golestan Province, Iran, captured during sunset. The landscape is characterized by smooth, undulating green slopes stretching across the horizon, highlighted by the warm, soft light of the setting sun. Turkmen Sahra is renowned for its vast steppes, rich cultural heritage, and striking natural beauty, offering visitors a peaceful retreat into one of Iran's most distinctive geographical regions.

Golestan Province, Iran

CURATORIAL INTRODUCTION

A documentary photographic archive of Golestan Province in northern Iran, exploring its remarkable diversity of forests, wetlands, mountains, plains, coastal landscapes, cultural heritage, and everyday life. The collection spans the ancient Hyrcanian forests and Golestan National Park, one of Iran’s most important natural landscapes, as well as the shores and wetlands around Gorgan Bay and the Caspian Sea. It also documents the historic and cultural heritage of the province, including Gonbad-e Qabus, the UNESCO World Heritage monument, historic Gorgan, traditional architecture, rural landscapes, and the cultural traditions of Turkmen communities. From dense forests and waterfalls to wetlands, agricultural plains, deserts, villages, historic sites, and coastal environments, these photographs present Golestan as a meeting point of diverse ecosystems and cultures in northern Iran. The collection offers a documentary view of the relationship between people, nature, heritage, and the changing landscapes of contemporary Golestan.

LEVEL 3 • CHAPTERS & GRANDCHILDREN WORKS