The Azershahr area of East Azerbaijan is known as a source of colored stones. But the nature of this region, its tourist attractions and natural pastures are being destroyed because these stones were not removed properly.
Extraction facilities in the Travertine and Limestone mines in the pastures of Azershahr were built at short intervals, which led to the destruction of the region’s vegetation and the destruction of nature.
Due to the lack of control over these mines, their extraction has increased and destroyed the beauty of the tourist attractions of the region. The hot Shorsu spring on the Golden Mountain is one of the tourist attractions of Azershahr, but it is surrounded by various mines.
Akbar Abdi, a member of the Scientific Board of the Center for Plant and Natural Resources Research of East Azerbaijan, spoke about the mines of the region. “Azershahr’s mines are the largest of Iran’s red travertine mines and have more than 1 million reserves, and after extraction they are sold to neighboring countries without processing,” he said.
According to him, about 100,000 tons of stone is extracted from these mines annually and sold only as raw stone, as there are no processing units on the stones. The use of travertine and limestone mines in the territory of Azershahr, on the edges of gardens and pastures is uncontrolled. The abandonment of rock fragments and fragments in nature, as well as the unauthorized removal of stones without the control of companies, have led to unpleasant images, as well as the spread of dust, which has led to difficulty breathing.
