Mahunik - Iranian village of gnomes

• Mahunik - Iranian village of gnomes

Mahunik village, located on the territory of Iran near the border with Afghanistan can rightly be called the settlement midgets or dwarfs. The thing is that the houses built here in height - no more than one and a half meters. A hundred years ago, people lived in them, which are tiny houses were just a match.

Mahunik ancient village consists of about two hundred houses, a third of which - quite low buildings. In these doorways is now possible to enter only stoop down and inside rooms can not stand up. Scientists believe that the local population had a tiny increase for several reasons: because of poor diet, poor water intake and genetic disorders (often marriages between close relatives).

For centuries village Mahunik been completely isolated from civilization. Persistent drought nullified all attempts to engage in cattle breeding, a rich harvest of agriculture, too, did not have to count. Turnips, barley, and several kinds of fruit - that's the whole diet of the local people. In addition, genetics believe that the closely related communications are caused by mutations, and they began to develop dwarfism.

There was another reason why the Lilliputians to build such a tiny house. The people in this settlement did not have pets, and it meant that all construction materials are brought manually. In addition, the small house was easier to heat during the cold season, and in summer less heat buildings. Yes, and for the enemies of such houses were less noticeable.

In the middle of the twentieth century in Mahunik reached civilization. With the construction of roads travelers come here have become locals first tried the food, which is totally different from what they ate. In particular, they tried the rice and chicken. With the change in diet, it became clear that the children grow up stronger and higher than their parents had a chance to win dwarfism.

Now Mahunike home to about 700 people. They moved into the brick houses of the old houses, but the lifestyle that led their ancestors, has not changed. They're also trying in vain to engage in farming, the older generation living on government subsidies, and young people trying to leave to find work in nearby cities.

The village Mahunik could become a tourist attraction, because the history of these people, midgets unique. If this happens, those who remained in the village, maintenance work will be tourists.