SAEDNEWS: Ali Sadr Cave is Iran’s only water-filled cave and one of the few aquatic caves in the world.
According to Saednews, Ali Sadr Cave is the only lake cave in Iran and one of the few water-filled caves in the world. It is located in the Sari Qiyeh heights, near the village of Ali Sadr in Kabudarahang County, Hamadan Province, Iran. The cave lies at an elevation of approximately 2,100 meters above sea level.
Inside the cave, visitors can explore a network of winding corridors and numerous passageways. A large underground lake has formed from interconnected waterways, making it possible to explore the deeper sections of the cave only by boat.
Ali Sadr Cave is one of the major natural tourist attractions in Hamadan Province. Geologists estimate that the rocks forming the cave date back to the Jurassic Period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 190–136 million years ago.
The residents of Ali Sadr and nearby villages had known about the cave for centuries and used its water long before it became a tourist destination.
On September 27, 1963, a group of 14 members of the Hamadan Mountaineering Association visited and explored the cave. Using basic equipment, including lanterns and rubber inner tubes, they managed to travel through part of its passages.
In 1967, news of the discovery of this remarkable, seemingly endless cave spread through national media, attracting researchers, mountaineers, and nature enthusiasts.
In 1973, mountaineers from Hamadan widened the cave's entrance, which was approximately 50 centimeters in diameter. Public visits to Ali Sadr Cave began in 1975.
Since then, extensive improvements have been made to facilitate exploration and enhance visitors' comfort. The navigable water route has been extended, and walking paths have been added to the dry sections of the cave. These developments allow tourists to discover new and spectacular underground landscapes while exploring one of Iran's most extraordinary natural attractions.
