Halgurd-Sakran National Park

بناری هەڵگوردالمحمية الطبيعية وقمة جبل هلكورد Halgurd Mountain

Pressed up against the Iranian border, east of Choman you'll find Halgurd Sakran National Park. Bisected by the Hamilton Road, Mount Halgurd is north of the Hamilton Road, and the Sakran mountains are to its south.

Halgurd Mountain is situated 170 Km northeast Erbil city. It is the highest mountain in Iraq of 3607m high above sea level. Halgurd Mountain is located among wonderful districts such as Galala, Haji Omaran, Roost, and Sidakan in choman town. The peak of the mountain is covered with snow throughout the year. There are many springs and lakes around the mountain that gave an attractive view to the area. There are also various birds and unique lawns. Halgurd and Hasara Roost mountain chains are included in the Halgurd-Sakaran National Park. The national park extends from Sakran Mountain to Haji Omaran and Sidakan district covering 1,100m¬2. Halgurd-Sakran National Park is considered one of the National Parks in the world. It is visited by tourists from all over Iraq and other foreign countries to spend enjoyable time in adventure and hiking. There are also various lawns and different kinds of herbs can be used as medicine.

The sense of remoteness is however qualified by the rusty shell casings that litter the summit, a reminder that this border despite its inaccessibility was the scene of fierce artillery exchanges during the Iran-Iraq war. To the North West is Halgurd’s rival peak Cheekha Dar which some claim to be a few metres higher but as it straddles the Iranian border, purists stick with Halgurd as the highest wholly Iraqi summit. Richard Fenning, 2012