Piran Waterfall (Rizhao)

Rizhao Waterfall is located in the northwest of Rizhao city, half a kilometer after Zhalekeh village, 10 kilometers northeast of Sarpol-e Zahab city and 72 kilometers west of Islamabad city, Kermanshah province.

Also called "Piran waterfall" and "Rijab waterfall", Rizhao waterfall is one of the natural heritages of Iran. The word "Rizhao" is made of two parts; Rizh means "small" and Avo means "water", and the word "Rijab" is likely to be a transformation of the same word. 

There is a calcareous alluvium which has been formed over time, inside the 40- kilometer "Kerend" canyon, in the northwest of "Zagros" and the northeast of the "Pataq" valley. "Rijab alluvium" is 17 km long and 5 km wide. It has been restricted by "Barikeh", "Golban" and "Dalahoo" from the north, "Piran" and "Shah-Neshin" mountains from the southwest. In addition to "Alvand" river, "Ezhdeha" valley, "Babayadgar" and "Shalan" straits as well as "Ratilan" rift valley, Rizhao waterfall is one of the main phenomena which have been created inside Rijab alluvium.

Rizhao waterfall comes from "Rijab", splashing a mountain of approximately 400 meters, flowing along the village of " Zhalekeh”, down into the “Hooneh” valley, and it finally reaches the village of "Piran", 1000 meters above sea level. There are five waterfalls falling down into "Piran" and "Bana Zarde" straits, one of which is Rizhao waterfall. Rizhao waterfall has three main rocks, two of which are higher and the lower one is shorter. There are waterholes in the limestone below the waterfall, which are called "Pothole" in geology. 

Among the local plants around Rizhao waterfall, we can find species such as oak, wild pistachio, hawthorn, wild cherry, wild raspberry, fig, walnut, pomegranate, plantain, grape, peachand olive. In addition, we should also mention the medicinal plants such as rhubarb, sumac, wild rue, Dorema aucheri, thistle, mushroom, docks, milk thistle and salsify.