Qardas range
Qardhas Mountains (English: Qardas mountains, Arabic: جبل قرطاس) are a mountain chain located in southwestern Somalia, specifically within Diinsoor District of the Bay Region. The mountains are found mainly to the south and south-west of Diinsoor town, and they include some of the highest elevations in the entire district.
Why are they called “Qardhas”?
The Qardhas Mountains appear visually like a natural wall surrounding Diinsoor. The entire range forms a connected chain starting from the western side of Diinsoor and stretching all the way to the northeastern parts of the district.
The highest and most important peaks are found on the southern side, which is the main reason the chain was named “Qardhas.” The three major peaks are:
● Kurus Mountain
● Deggaras Mountain
● Goreygod Mountain
Unique features
The Qardhas Mountains are among the most distinctive mountains in Somalia for several reasons: Their peaks are covered with dense vegetation found in different regions of Somalia
They form a long connected chain
They appear dark and massive when seen from a distance
When climbing them, a person barely feels they are ascending a mountain—except for the Kurus peak
Seen from above, they look like large dark formations, similar to camel humps. But as one approaches, the mountains open out widely and appear much larger. From the peaks, the town below looks like a deep place you have just climbed out of.
Distance from Diinsoor
Although the mountains look close to the town, some are much nearer than others:
Western peaks are the closest—around 2 km Moving south, they gradually become farther The farthest peak is Goreygod, around 10 km or more from town Deggaras is about 6 km Kurus is around 2.5 km the nearest mountains lie directly west of Diinsoor.
The Qardhas Mountains are one of the most remarkable natural landmarks in southwestern Somalia: rich in vegetation, visually unique, geographically extensive, and historically known by local communities. They form an important natural feature of Diinsoor District and remain among the most striking mountain chains in the Bay Region.