Geographical location

Katalekhor Cave lies in the south of Garmab city in Afshar division, 140 km south of Zanjan. It is accessible via Zanjan - Soltanieh - Khodabandeh road, as well as the main road from Zanjan to Bijar. The entrance to the cave is on the southern side of "Saghizloo" mountain, and a byroad, about 7 km, made by Zanjan "Governor's Office" links the entrance to Garmab city."Saghizloo" mountain that envelopes the cave is a rather high mountain rising to 2000 meters on the western part.The mountain falls down towards the west, reaching a sharp end of 800 meters and this range is actually from east to west.

Getting to the Katalekhor cave

Introduction

With a variety of natural phenomena resulting from dissolution and deposits within carbonate rocks, "Katalekhor Cave" can be termed as one of the largest and most spectacular sights in Iran as well as the world.
This unique cave in Asia, as we might call it, has been left unknown due to bad roads, and a lack of access to larger city centers; thus, very little scientific study or research has been carried out so far.
All that we know about this cave is whatever the common people or the athletes visiting the place recount. Of course, we should point out here that there was an upward trend in introducing this marvelous cave since 1989, that is, when IRIB (Iran TV) channel II program "Spectaculars" filmed and broadcast some parts of the cave.
From that time on, Dr. Sirous Arshadi embarked upon the scientific study of the cave for the first time, the result of which is available for those interested, in the form of a detailed and documented report. Moreover, you can find interesting pictures, valuable charts, and useful tables along with this report.

Another study includes a visit to Katalekhor Cave two great scientists, Dr. Abdolkarim Gharib, a senior geologist and a distinguished professor, and Dr. Ahmad Nakhli the high adviser to IAEA (Iran Atomic Energy Agency) in the winter of 1996.
In "Iran Speleology Committee" sessions following this visit, with professor Gharib as the honorary chairman, it was declared that this sight is the only cave in Iran deserving further studies. Accordingly the news of the committee was communicated to the relevant scientific bodies.

 

Having visited the most picturesque  caves in Yugoslavia and France, Dr. Gharib considers Katalekhor Cave  in some respects much more interesting and spectacular , in comparison. In his trip to Zanjan - Garmab, this out standing scientist viewed some delicate tube like stalactites which, according to him, a similar scene he has observed just in a cave in France.