This archive report was first published on 3 August 2020.
On a sweltering summer day in the plains below, a group of adventurous souls donned hiking boots, thick jackets, and sunglasses to escape the heat and celebrate a unique union in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan.
For Salar Chomany, 34, and Soma Muhammed, 28, the picturesque landscape of Mount Halgurd was the perfect backdrop for their wedding ceremony, held 2,000 metres (6,500 feet) above sea level.
As a seasoned guide, Salar has spent 12 years traversing the region's dramatic ridges and valleys, while Soma, a student of Educational Sciences, is an avid trekker in her own right.
On their special day, the couple and their guests braved the thin and chilly air to dance in circles around the bride and groom in a traditional Kurdish 'dabkeh' dance.
After a feast of fresh fruit and cheese from the village below, the newlyweds finally fell asleep in their tent, only to rise the next morning and embark on a honeymoon ascent of Mount Halgurd, Iraq's second-highest mountain at 3,607 metres.
Published on August 3, 2020
