Shaking Minaret Ardakan

Iran, Iran

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The Shaking Minaret of Ardakan, more precisely called the oscillating minaret of Kharanaq, is a 15‑meter‑high brick tower in the ancient village of Kharanaq in the Ardakan region of Iran’s Yazd province. Built during the Seljuk era and later associated with a Qajar‑period mosque, the minaret is famous because its upper part can be gently shaken by hand, and after a few seconds the whole tower begins to vibrate noticeably. It has three floors and a narrow spiral staircase, and its unusual movement is still not fully explained: some researchers suggest it is due to the minaret’s specific architecture and construction, while others think it may partly be a visual effect enhanced by the tower’s shape and materials. Because of this rare physical phenomenon and the village’s historic mud‑brick fortress, the site is a popular stop for tourists traveling between Ardakan and Tabas.