Mesr (the old names: Chah deraz, Josef Kallateh, Josef farm), is a district of Khor and Biabanak county in Isfahan province, central Iran.
Located in Khur and Biabanak County in Isfahan province, Mesr village is a dream place for all those who yearn for off-road trips in this small island in the sea of sands. On the road to the village by crossing the sand dunes, three green oases shine like three emeralds next to each other from afar, making the road a very enchanting place for ecotourists in the heart of Iran’s central desert or Dasht-e Kavir in Persian with its hot and dry weather.
Here, the strong wind has shaped the surface and formed bizarre and attractive figures through the unique sand hills called thrones around the village that among them Takht-e Aroos and Takht-e Abbasi are the most famous ones. Going up the thrones, visitors can have an amazing view of the village and the desert which dates back to 7000 years ago based on some evidence.
The first emerald is Amirabad as a vast and prosperous farm where the water is supplied with a deep well. Here, the road branches off on one way to the second emerald known as Mesr village where having a glimpse on the wide and clean streets decorated by traditional houses, wind-catchers and palm trees on two sides and the flowing stream in between will be surprising. The road ends in Farahzad as the third and last emerald with just a few families residing there.
Of the most attractive features of the village, the wonderful scenery must be mentioned where tourists can enjoy observing a myriad of stars glowing in the clean sky and the relaxing silence of the desert at night. Also, the bamboo field, a right place to take photo of wildlife desert and Seleknon salt lake, a salty land with hive-like shapes as well as a wide range of flora and fauna species are the other best-known attractions of the surrounding area.
Surviving a constant battle between human and nature in a long span of time, Mesr village as a part of the three exotic emerald villages and one of the fantastic natural highlights of Iran welcomes tourists with open arms where hospitality and desert wonders have always been alive in the memory of adventurous visitors.
This village is located at Kavir desert and 45 kilometers east of Jandagh and 60 kilometers north of Khor. Mesr village or Mesr desert is located just at halfway of Damghan to Naein and Isfahan.
Its founder was a wealthy shepherd named Josef. Mesr village may not be more than 100 years old. But since everyone knew it as Josef farm and when its subterranean canals were droughty, they made him dig well with English diesel engines.
After year, its underground tables went down and Josef dug a deeper well, so the neighbor villagers named this village Chah deraz.
But since Josef did not like this name and his name was Josef and the story of Prophet Josef happened in Mesr (name of Egypt in Persian language), he recommended to name it “Mesr”. Villagers who respected him, accepted his suggestion. Josef ordered to build a width street middle the village, at least 500 meters in length.
Some villagers believed that their village was too small and there was no need to such a width street, but he told them their village would be very famous and crowded soon. His forecast came true and today a lot of tourists come to visit Mesr village so that it is one of the important tourism destinations of Iran.
At the front of village there are two small rooms opposite of each other that inside one there is a big generator to supply the electricity of Mesr and its neighbor village (Farahzad). The other room is the only village store equipped with landline phone. But today people can use cellphone to communicate.
Mesr tourism attractions are deep water well, verdurous desert and planting Gaz trees to prevent flints from movement , a boulevard 50 meters in width middle of the village, old and traditional houses renewed for tourists settlement, camel riding in desert and green , width canebrakes located at 5 of village and sand dunes around them. Many foreign tourists come to visit these wonders middle of the central Kavir of Iran. Numerous Iranian and foreign astronomers choose this place to their astronomical workshops and many photographers use this beautiful and wonderful images to take pictures.
