If you come across a Bijar type of carpet, it will probably be pretty heavy. This is because a special technique is used to make the carpet extremely stiff and durable, also known as "iron Bijar" for these qualities. It takes its name from the Iranian town of Bijar, which lies about 200 kilometres from the border with neighbouring Iraq. It is mainly inhabited by Kurds who weigh these Persians, either by hand or by machine, and workshops are also located in the surrounding villages. The biyar carpets are so strong that they should not be folded in transit; they should be rolled up to avoid breaking. The most common colours are navy blue, cherry red, brown, light blue, pink, yellow, ochre, orange, beige and ivory. If experts want to identify the Bijar, it is done mainly by weight. Apart from their strength and durability, the popularity of the carpets is also due to the fact that a huge amount of material and labour goes into making them. This is also why Bijar carpets are among the best and also the most expensive on the market.