Nice print titled Kelat-i-Nadir, gorge d'Arghavan Chah, from wood engraving with fine detail and clear impression, nice hand coloring, approx. page size is 27.5 x 18.5 cm, approx. image size is 19 x 13 cm. From La Nouvelle Géographie universelle, la terre et les hommes / The Earth and Its Inhabitants, great work of Elisee Reclus.

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Kalat-i-nadiri

Kalat-i-nadiri is a massive natural fortress located about 44 miles north of Sousia in the Kalat, Khorasan region of Iran.

It is essentially a massive plateau about 4 miles in circumference that has been used as a fortress since before the Achaemenid era. It is surrounded on 3 sides by high cliff walls ranging from 1500 feet on the south side to 2000 feet on the west side with lower eastern walls and a gently sloping plain leading up to the heights from the north.

It is famous as the only fortress ever to withstand a siege by Tamerlane.

Alexander the Great's army laid siege to it. While Alexander left to deal with a rebellious Persian chieftain, he ordered Craterus to command the majority of the army and take the fortress.

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