Neshtifan Windmills stand out among the historical structures located in the village of Neshtifan or Nashtifan in Iran’s Khorasan Razavi province. This structure, known as one of the oldest windmills in the world, still functions today and achieves partial success in energy production. These windmills could produce enough energy that the villagers use to grind wheat even today.
The windmills at Nashtifan form one of the most spectacular and comprehensive collections of clay, mud and wood. These windmills have served humanity over time by skillfully combining art and technology. The ruins of these windmills, which first appeared in Iran in the 7th century AD, are on UNESCO’s list of ‘Places to be Protected’.
The region where Neştifan Windmills are located has been known for its strong winds for many years. In fact, the origin of the word “Neştifan” is in Persian.Torment of the Storm” It means. The windmills in the village, which are under the influence of these strong storms, at least make it easier to produce flour and benefit from these strong winds. The winds in the area are so strong that local people do not even consider the possibility of the millstone remaining motionless.
Features of Neştifan Windmills
One of the features of the building attracts attention not only with its deep-rooted history dating back more than a thousand years, but also with the positioning of the building. Neştifan Windmills stand out because their axis is placed perpendicular to the ground and their propellers are parallel to the ground. This feature was invented during the Persian Empire and later inspired the modern windmills we are used to seeing in northern France, eastern England and today’s Dutch-Belgian lands.
However, there is an important difference between these two models: While today’s modern windmills are based on the principle of the wind lifting and rotating the blades, Neştifan Windmills work on the principle of the wind pushing the blades and rotating them.
The number of Neştifan Windmills, which are naturally made of clay, straw and wood, is around two dozen. Each windmill consists of eight sections and each section has six blades. These blades, which rotate with the wind, enable the shaft and, accordingly, the millstone to rotate.
The Future of Neştifan Windmills is Uncertain
No matter how strong the winds in the region are, efficiency problems arising from the early design of Neştifan Windmills cause the energy produced to serve only the purpose of grinding wheat. It is stated that windmills are low-efficiency by today’s standards and produce so little energy that they cannot even light a light bulb when connected to a generator. This situation causes uncertainty about the future of windmills.
Currently, the villagers using Neştifan Windmills are in the minority. These people state that the reason they still use windmills is not efficiency, but the desire to preserve this historical heritage. The Iranian government’s recognition of the Neshtifan Windmills as a national heritage site in 2002 at least prevents the structures from being demolished. However, people in the region are worried that if future generations stop using these inefficient windmills, these structures will remain idle and become history.
