Elburz Mountains

The eastern Alborz overlook the plains of Tabaristan and Gorgan to the north. Their folded ridges intercept moisture from the Caspian Sea, creating a sharp contrast between the forested northern flank and the dry plateau to the south. Snow falls on the higher ground in winter, feeding streams that descend through steep valleys. The mountains have long divided the Caspian districts from the routes across inland Iran.