But the Lar Valley was one of the Shah's summer retreats, and a favourite pasture-ground for his brood mares and young stock.

It is, moreover, a popular resort of flock-owning nomads, and as the Shah's love of camp life there led him to fear injury to the grassy plains and slopes of his favourite highlands, the project was abandoned.
There was another scheme to construct a series of reservoirs by means of strong barriers at the foot of the lower ravines of the Elburz range, eight miles north of Tehran, in which to keep the winter water which comes from the melting snow.

The whole mountain-chain is covered with snow each year from top to bottom.

In April and May the snow melts, and the precious water flows away where it is not wanted.

Were this water stored, it would be made available in the succeeding hot months.