Iran’s Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark has won two awards at an international competition in Malaysia. The results highlight the region’s geological and natural heritage.
The geopark secured first and second places in separate categories at the “Geoparks and You” competition. The event took place during the ninth Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network Symposium in September 2026.
Adela Sadat Sajjadi-Pour, a sixth-grade student, won first place in the “Geopark Five Senses” category. Her work, “Experience Morteza Ali Spring with Me,” presents her personal experience of one of Tabas’s natural attractions.
Meanwhile, Seyed Hamid Haghighi received second place in the “Visual Odyssey of the Earth” category. His photograph shows a camel caravan crossing the Halvan Desert, with the Kalmand mountain ranges in the background.
The image highlights the camel’s role within the desert landscape while presenting the area’s distinctive geological scenery.
Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO congratulated the winners and the local community involved with the Tabas geopark. Officials also highlighted the international exposure created by the achievements.
Vesal Yahya Sheibani, director of Tabas UNESCO Global Geopark, said the results offered an opportunity to present Iran’s geological and natural capabilities internationally.
The competition was open to residents of UNESCO Global Geoparks. It featured three categories: “Geopark Five Senses,” “Stories of Rocks,” and “Visual Odyssey of the Earth.”
The competition formed part of the ninth APGN Symposium, hosted by Malaysia’s Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark.
Located in northwestern South Khorasan Province, Tabas is known for its extensive geological formations and desert landscapes. The area contains geological records spanning from the Precambrian to the Early Cretaceous periods.
The geopark also contains what is described as the most comprehensive Paleozoic succession in West Asia. Its latest international awards further showcase the region’s geological heritage and community participation.