Khourian Desert is located E5328 east and N3528 north, 2 km southeast of Semnan city in Semnan province. The desert is bounded on the east by the Semnan salt desert and on the west by the river Guinab and the Delasian Desert. Much of the desert is covered by salt domes and in the south of the plain, which is affected by the Guineb River, becoming alkaline mudstones and clayey marshes. Vegetation in the northern steppe areas and in the central and southern areas are mainly halophytic and saline.

During the Qajar era, due to the flow of oil on the ground, the region enjoyed a special strategic position, often involving ownership and extraction of oil between the British and Russian governments. In the southern part of the desert there are still traces and equipment used by the Russians to extract oil. The bridge that was built by the Russians five years ago is still in use.

Excavation work began with the establishment of the Khourian Oil Company with the membership of Iran and Russia. Then they came to oil for the first time with exploration and drilling in 2007, but due to disputes between the two sides, drilling was halted and no operational action has been taken in the area so far.

Antiquities
The ancient monuments of this area can be mentioned the citadel of Aala village. The oil wells built in the Qajar era and the Russian bridge are other remnants of the area. Other works of the monument called Khwaja for an unknown individual monument made of other attractions of this area.

access
First, take the road to Semnan Air Base Road. After the Ala village signpost, enter the auxiliary axis and after the Ala and Khourian villages, continue south.