"النقل الآلي الطرق في بلاد فارس. المجلد ١ - الطرق الرئيسية. ١٩٤٢" [و‎‎٢‎٠‎٥] (٤٩٨/٤١٤)

401
Route No. XII— contd.
4. Climatic effects. —The cold in winter is intense from
mile 0 to 27 and the heat in summer mild. Snow falls from Decem
ber to February but seldom interrupts traffic. Rain falls chiefly
from March to April with occasional thunderstorms in May and
June and these may cause spates which necessitate the clearing of
boulders and debris from the road.
From mile 27 to the end the winter is mild and the heat in
summer very trying with the added discomfort of great humidity
from mile 100 to the end.
Rain falls chiefly between November and April.
5. Exceptional features. —(i) The pass at mile 29 after
heavy snow.
(ii) The YUZBASHI CHAI gorge from mile 27 to 55 and
the SAFID RUD gorge from mile 72 to 85 which present tactical
difficulties.
(iii) The LOSHAN Bridge at mile 56 (in a lesser degree)
and the MANJIL Bridge at mile 72, the destruction of which
would hold up the progress of a force of any arms until repairs
were effected.
6 . Repair facilities— Road metal is available throughout
Timber is available from mile 76 to the end. Labour is plentiful.
No steam rollers were seen on this road.
7. Supply facilities—(i) Camping grownds—Suitable sites
are to be found everywhere on the plateau, mile 0—27. From
mile 27 to 56 there are no good sites in the narrow and steep sided
gorge. Good sites are again rare in the SAFID RUD gorge and in
the flat jungle country at mile 102 .
(ii) Water. —Plentiful throughout, though the SAFID
RUD, especially when high, carries a lot of red silt and requires
settling tanks.
(iii) Supplies. —Abundant at KAZVIN and RESHT, plenti
ful at MANJIL and RUDBAR, scarce elsewhere. On the Caspian
littoral rice and fish (usually smoked) take the place of wheat
(or barley) and meat as the staple diet. Poultry is plentiful
throughout.
(iv) Fuel. —Scarce as far as mile 76—abundant thereafter.
(v) Fodder. —(See supplies.)
(vi) Petrol and oil. —Very large stocks at KAZVIN, RESHT
and PAHLEVI, plentiful at RUDBAR, a few tins at every tea
house.