The long, mountainous border between Iran and Turkey is a major strategic and commercial frontier. This 534-kilometer line runs through the rugged terrain of the Zagros and Taurus mountains, a region predominantly inhabited by Kurdish communities on both sides, giving the area a distinct cultural cohesion that transcends the political line. You have three main road crossings to choose from. The largest and busiest by far is the Gürbulak (Turkey) and Bazargan (Iran) crossing. This is a massive, 24/7 operation on the main route between Erzurum in Turkey and Tabriz in Iran, and it handles a huge volume of international truck and bus traffic. Further south, the Esendere-Sero crossing offers a more scenic, and often quieter, alternative through the high mountains. A third crossing at Kapıköy-Razi also accommodates a railway line connecting Van in Turkey with Iran, providing another option for trade and travel. In recent years, Turkey has been constructing a significant border wall along sections of this frontier to enhance security and control smuggling and irregular migration. Crossing here is a passage through a dramatic landscape with a deep and complex history shaped by empires, from the Ottomans and Persians to the present day.