{"id":18582,"date":"2017-07-19T08:14:19","date_gmt":"2017-07-19T08:14:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/?p=18582"},"modified":"2026-10-30T05:38:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T05:38:50","slug":"still-working-windmills-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/still-working-windmills-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Nashtifan Windmills: Iran\u2019s Traditional Asbads"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The traditional windmills of Nashtifan, near Khaf in Razavi Khorasan Province, northeastern Iran, are remarkable examples of how communities have used strong seasonal winds to grind grain. Known as <em>asbads<\/em>, these structures use vertical-axis sails and a simple mechanical system. They form part of Iran\u2019s historic industrial and architectural heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iran submitted <a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/tentativelists\/6192\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Asbads (windmill) of Iran to UNESCO\u2019s World Heritage Tentative List in 2017<\/a>. A tentative listing is not the same as inscription on the World Heritage List. The submission describes the windmills\u2019 design, regional distribution and relationship with the dry, windy climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"712\" title=\"The Neshtifan Windmills\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-1024x712.jpg\" alt=\"Traditional Nashtifan windmills with timber sails set into earthen walls\" class=\"wp-image-18615\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-1024x712.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-780x542.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-768x534.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-1536x1067.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-676x470.jpg 676w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills.jpg 1580w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Traditional asbads at Nashtifan, built with earthen walls and timber sails.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/still-working-windmills-iran\/#how-nashtifans-asbads-work\" >How Nashtifan\u2019s asbads work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/still-working-windmills-iran\/#why-eastern-iran-developed-wind-powered-mills\" >Why eastern Iran developed wind-powered mills<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/still-working-windmills-iran\/#heritage-status-and-visiting\" >Heritage status and visiting<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-nashtifans-asbads-work\"><\/span>How Nashtifan\u2019s asbads work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional asbads channel wind towards sails mounted around a vertical shaft. The turning shaft transfers energy to millstones used to grind grain. UNESCO\u2019s tentative-list documentation describes two-storey structures, with sails on the upper level and millstones below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vertical-axis asbads and European windmills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a traditional asbad, the sails rotate around a vertical shaft that drives the millstones below. By contrast, many familiar European windmills use a horizontal-axis rotor. Iran\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/tentativelists\/6192\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UNESCO Tentative List submission<\/a> describes this mechanical difference. The comparison does not establish the construction date of any surviving mill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Builders used locally available wood, earth and brick. Wind-catching openings direct air onto the vanes, while the mills were grouped on exposed higher ground to make use of prevailing winds. Iran\u2019s UNESCO Tentative List submission also describes these clusters as helping shelter nearby settlements from strong winds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why-eastern-iran-developed-wind-powered-mills\"><\/span>Why eastern Iran developed wind-powered mills<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Parts of eastern Iran experience powerful seasonal winds, often associated with the region\u2019s \u201c120-day winds\u201d. In an area where water can be scarce, wind offered a way to power milling without relying on flowing water. The asbads show how local engineering responded to the climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nashtifan is among the best-known surviving examples of this technology. However, the precise construction date of each standing mill is not established by the UNESCO submission, so descriptions such as \u201cthe world\u2019s oldest working windmills\u201d or claims that every mill remains operational today should be treated with caution.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-18612 size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"874\" title=\"The Neshtifan Windmills\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-2.jpg\" alt=\"Close view of timber windmill sails and earthen structures at Nashtifan\" class=\"wp-image-18612\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-2.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-2-780x426.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-2-768x420.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-2-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-2-1536x839.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-2-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-2-450x246.jpg 450w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills-2-705x385.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Timber sail mechanisms and earthen structures at the Nashtifan asbads.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"heritage-status-and-visiting\"><\/span>Heritage status and visiting<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The asbads are valued for their engineering and their connection to local food production. Their presence on UNESCO\u2019s Tentative List indicates that Iran has proposed them for possible future World Heritage consideration; it does not confer World Heritage status. Visitors should respect conservation restrictions and check locally whether any milling demonstration is operating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For broader travel planning, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/iran-travel-guide\/\">Iran travel guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Heritage source:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/tentativelists\/6192\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Asbads (windmill) of Iran, Tentative List reference 6192<\/a> (submitted 2 February 2017).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the traditional asbads of Nashtifan, Iran: how their vertical-axis windmills work, their history and their UNESCO Tentative List status.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":18615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,306,308],"tags":[6013,6012,15915],"class_list":["post-18582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tourism-iran","category-culture","category-destinations","tag-sistan","tag-sistan-and-baluchistan","tag-windmills"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Neshtifan-windmills.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18582\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}