 ریگ جن Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson |  This is a composite picture of Iran's central desert (Dasht-e Kavir). It is made by using satellite images, height data, and some map features. I produced and copied it in the National Geographic's site at nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine. Rig-Jenn sand dunes can be seen below the N in IRAN on the picture. |
| Rig-e Jenn is a vast area of sand dunes in the middle of Dasht-e Kavir, Iran's central desert. It was not travelled by caravan travellers, which believed it was a place where evil spirits lived. Even today some in the neighbouring towns and villages believe this. Sven Hedin, the famous desert explorer avoided this area in his 1900s travels to Iranian deserts. Alfons Gabriel crossed the southern 'tail' of it on his way from Ashin to Aroosan in the 1930s. In the first version of this page I wrote "Rig-e Jenn (demon dunes) is an unexplored sand dune area..." No longer so. After at least seven trips to this enchanting and mysterious place in the heart of Dasht-e Kavir we know something about it. Iranian central desert is also home to Yuz (Asiatic Cheetah), and Goor (Onager). I hope to find traces of these endangered animals in my trips to this area. | The following sections present photos and texts about my trips to Rig-e Jenn: |
Some Related Links
BBC Persian report about me and Rig-e Jenn (in Persian)
A good satellite picture (250 kB) containing Rig-e Jenn.
Trips to Rig-e Jenn by my friend Hamid Boreiri
Space shuttle image of Rig-e Jenn, looking east.
Beautiful image of Iran's Central Desert from space
Map of Iran (130kB) to locate Rig-e Jenn
A good article about geology of sand dunes
Columbia Encyclopedia on Dasht-e Kavir
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