Dare to drive the dangerous Kelashin Pass

Kelashin Pass (Gardaneh-ye Kalashīn) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.942m (9,652ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Iran and Iraq. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Kelashin Pass

The road to the summit is unpaved and pretty challenging with some steep and narrow sections. There is a danger of land mines in the area. When the snow falls - which it does in the winter – things get tough and slippery. The road links Batrian (a village in West Azerbaijan Province of Iran) and Kelashin, a mountain village in Kurdistan Region Iraq. Travel to Iraq is advised against by most governments. Rawanduz is much safer than other parts of Iraq, because of its strong military Peshmarga forces who have successfully defended the country from ISIS, but even here it is important to always remain vigilant.
Pic: Nali Kurdi

 

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