Qandil Mountains
"Qandil" redirects here. For the village in Iran, see Qandil, Iran.
| Qandil Mountains | |
|---|---|
|
قەندیل Çiyayên Qendîlê | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,587 m (11,768 ft) |
| Coordinates | 36°32′28″N 44°59′46″E / 36.54111°N 44.99611°ECoordinates: 36°32′28″N 44°59′46″E / 36.54111°N 44.99611°E |
| Geography | |
| Location | Arbil, Iraq (near Iraq–Iran border) |
| Parent range | Zagros |
The Qandil Mountains (Kurdish: قەندیل; Çiyayên Qendîlê), are a mountainous area of Iraqi Kurdistan near the Iraq–Iran border. The region belongs to the Zagros mountain range and is difficult to access. Its highest peaks reach over 3,000m. These mountains are regarded as sacred by the Kurds.[1]
The area is notable as a sanctuary and central command center for the Kurdish nationalist organization Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK and their armed guerrillas control an area of roughly 50 km², which has been bombarded by the Turkish Air Force and shelled by Iranian artillery for several years. The PJAK party is also stationed in Qandil alongside the PKK, which allows them to infiltrate into Iran to attack the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
See also
- Kuhe Haji Ebrahim (highest peak)
References
Sources
- With the P.K.K. in Iraq’s Qandil Mountains by The New York Times
- Interviews with female PKK fighters in Qandil by BBC News
- Mount Qandil: A Safe Haven for Kurdish Militants – Part 1, Part 2
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