Arasbārān (Persian: ارسباران) or Qaradağ (Azerbaijani: قرهداغ), is a UNESCO registered biosphere reserve (since 1976) and an Iranian Dept. of Environment designated "Protected Area" in East Azarbaijan Province, Iran, with a varying altitude from 256m in the vicinity of Aras River to 2896m and covers an area of 78560 hectares. The biosphere is also home for 23,500 nomads who are living in transiti
on buffer in 2000 altitude.[2]
The area is home to 215 species of birds, notably Caucasian Black Grouse, Grey Partridge, Black Francolin, and Common Pheasant, 29 species of reptiles, 48 species of mammals, notably wild Goat, wild Boar, Brown Bear, Wolf, Lynx, and Leopard, and 17 species of fish. There is an effort going on to revitalize the extinct sub-species of Caspian red deer local to the area. The local flora include Hornbeam, Sumac, and Berberis.
