PHOTOS: Breathtaking views in Kurdistan's mountainous Balakayati region

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Residents were this week rewarded with stunning scenes of snow-covered mountains in the Balakayati region in the Kurdistan Region’s capital, Erbil.

The snowfall in Rosti village in the Balakayati region creates a charming atmosphere every winter.

Balakayati is located within Choman, the mostly rural northeastern district of Erbil that borders Iran. Its sprawling hills covered with snow help to attract of local and foreign tourists every year.

The accumulation of snow atop the mountains in Erbil’s Soran district has attracted tourists from throughout the Kurdistan Region, with people of all ages enjoying the snow.

From nearly any place one stands in Balakayati, nearby snow-capped mountains can be seen on the horizon all year long.

Tourists from central and southern parts of Iraq have rushed to the Kurdistan Region in recent weeks to enjoy the weather and spend time with friends and family.

Over the years, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has sought to develop the tourism industry, particularly in the winter where snowy mountains dominate the skyline and captivate thousands of local and international tourists.

Editing by Joanne Stocker-Kelly