Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests, Protected forest ecoregion along Caspian Sea, Iran.
The Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests form a vast woodland ecosystem stretching between the Caspian Sea and the Elburz Mountains. This forest region supports around 300 bird species and nearly 100 mammal species living across its varied landscape.
After ancient ice ages, these forests served as refuges where plant species survived and later spread across Europe, shaping modern European forests. This ancient connection makes them important for understanding how European woodlands came to be.
The forests take their name from the large wolf population that roams here. These predators share the space with Persian leopards, brown bears, and golden jackals, making it a place where different large carnivores coexist.
The region spreads across several provinces offering multiple entry points and protected areas to explore. Visitors should know that only a small portion has formal protection status, so there are also informal walking and wildlife-viewing opportunities throughout the wider forest.
Golestan National Park within this region harbors Persian leopards hunting wild boar, roe deer, and red deer in their natural habitat. This balance between apex predators and their prey is rare to witness in the modern world.
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