Kandovan is an ancient village tucked away in the northwest
corner of Iran at the foothills of Mount Sahand and near the city of Tabriz.
What makes the village so unique is that its homes have been carved inside cone
shaped rocks. The original substance for these unusual cone formations
consisted of volcanic ash and debris from an eruption of Mount Sahand in the
distant past. It was subsequently compressed and shaped into cone towers by
natural elements over thousands of years. This hardened material is strong
enough to function as the walls and floors of a house, whilst also providing
efficient insulation against
