Physically, Iran is best known for its warm-to-hot, semiarid to arid climatic conditions. In the north (Alborz Mountains) and west (Zagros Mountains) it has mountain ranges rising to 3500–4500ma.s.l., however, which supported major alpine glaciers during the Quaternary Ice Ages and maintain a few much smaller ones today. Scientific investigation of caves in the mountains is in its early stages. Two examples with perennial ice have received preliminary study; (1) Yakh-Morad Ice, at 2490m above sea level in the Alborz, has perennial ice from seepage entering a lower level cold trap and retains seasonal ice into Aug. in warmer upper levels; it is believed that a net loss of the perennial ice is occurring. Dena Ice Cave, at 3900ma.s.l. in the Zagros, is a single descending passage with large ice stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones from seepage. The cave may be experiencing net accumulation of ice today.