Hyrcanian Forests

The Hyrcanian Forests form a unique forested massif stretching along the Caspian Sea, recognised as a “living fossil” of the planet’s history. Dating back 25-50 million years to the Tertiary Period, these broad-leaved forests served as a natural refuge during the Ice Age glaciations that depleted vegetation elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere. The area is a biodiversity hotspot, hosting more than 3,200 vascular plant species and serving as a critical habitat for rare fauna. The site protects ancient ecosystems and endemic tree species, such as the ironwood tree, offering invaluable insights into the global evolutionary history.