Kowsar Icehouse, Ancient ice storage facility in Gonabad County, Iran.
Kowsar Icehouse is a 15 meter tall structure made of brick and mud in Gonabad County. Its thick walls keep the interior cool and contain multiple underground chambers where ice and perishable foods were stored for months.
This structure dates to the Qajar period and shows traditional Persian building methods for preserving ice in desert regions. It was part of a network of ice houses that spread across much of Iran and supplied local communities with frozen goods.
The building shows the craft of ice-making that passed through generations in this region. People used it to make frozen treats and sell them to neighbors on hot summer days.
This location lies off the main roads, so it helps to plan ahead with local knowledge or a guide to reach it. Access to the interior may be limited, so check ahead or contact a local guide before visiting.
The building uses a clever system of air movement through its domed roofs and underground passages to create natural cooling. This design allowed it to preserve ice even on the hottest days of the year without any mechanical cooling needed.
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