Chama Ice Cave

Chama Ice Cave, one of the most unique ice caves in Iran and a major source of fresh water, is located near Chelgard Village in Koohrang county in the northeastern section of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, in the midst of Zardkooh Mountain in the Zagros range. Under the surface of this cave is a cold-water spring which flows to the Koohrang Dam and is considered the origin of both Zayandeh and Karoon rivers. 

The greenery of the area is such that during Nasereddin Shah’s era it was referenced as “Little India”. Its location in a deep valley and the accumulation of snow over the years has resulted in ice caps and huge masses of snow remaining permanently throughout every season. The angle at which the valley receives sunlight combined with the melting of snow in the summer has resulted in the gradual degradation of the underlayer of snow over centuries and the formation of the cave.

Situated in a narrow valley with snow and thin icicles, the surroundings present a spectacular view of nature. Once inside the cave, one is surrounded by snow. The thickness of the icy layers of the cave varies based on the season and temperature. The height of the accumulated snow in some points reaches as high as 45 to 50 meters. The cave is assumed to be two to three kilometers deep although given the makeup of the cave this number fluctuates with the temperature. Despite its beauty, the area is also dangerous as the collapsing of ice in the cave has caused unfortunate incidents.

Access to the cave is not that straight forward. The most direct path would be from Shahr’e Kord which in itself is about 90 kilometers away from the cave. After passing Koohrang, the road from Chelgard to Saragha Seyyed Village will lead to the cave. Of this path approximately 12 kilometers of it is a dirt road and not easy to navigate. Also a shallow river crosses the path. The width of the snow covered area is visible on the mountain and while the final stretch requires a bit of hiking up the mountain range, it is not difficult enough to exclude all but professional mountain climbers. 

Within the cave itself navigation is a bit trickier due to the unpredictability of the integrity of the ice below and as such it is advised to not proceed more than 50 meters within the cave unless visitors have proper mountaineering gear.

The Chama plain, which houses the Chama Ice Cave, is a suitable place for Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari nomads’ tents. Mostly in the summer one has the chance to see nomads of the highborn tribes of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province that move from Khuzestan to Chelgard and enjoy their hospitality and fresh dairy and witness their various traditions and rituals related to tribal lifestyles. The province is also a hub for making wool felt products, the majority of which are exported abroad. It is home to some 500 crafters, in over 250 workshops, making handmade felt products. The area is generally untouched by modern technology and thus there are no facilities for overnight stays.