The abandoned village of Kharanaq is near the city of Yazd, in central Iran. Built in the shadow of a scenic mountain, the site has been occupied for at least 4,000 years while some of the mud brick houses still standing today are up to 1,000 years old.

The last remnants of this historic and awe-inspiring city are now under threat due to the existence of iron, uranium, barite, zinc, and granite deposits in the surrounding area. The Saghand mine located 60km west of the village extracts some of these valuable minerals, and it is only a matter of time before profits are placed before the preservation of this ancient town.