Kandovan is a cave village in eastern Azerbaijan province, near Тabriz, in northwestern Iran .The site is similar to the cave villages of Cappadocia, Turkey . As in Cappadocia, the soil in the region is formed from ignimbrite, a fine volcanic material, which is transported over long distances, hot welded as it falls and forms large, thick slicks.
This material, better known as tuff, is easily cut. The cave dwellings of Kandovan were carved from the rock several hundred years ago (about three thousand years ago) and are still inhabited.
The inhabitants of the region grant Kandovan mineral water healing properties: it is considered a cure for kidney diseases. Visitors from Tabriz or elsewhere always bring several cans.
I am Maarten Verhees. The focus of my photographs is on the variation of architecture, animals and people. I try to capture the essence of local places in photographs... Read more…