January 12, 2003

Siamak Morajevi

This is in response to Brian Appleton who asked about the Japanese incline. (Tehran ’s optical illusion.)

When the highway was built between Evin and Sevvon-e-Esfand Square (the first inner city highway) at one of the exits, there was an incline. It looked as if you were going up hill but in reality it was going down. The engineers explained it as Japanese incline, an optical illusion first encountered and explained in Japan.

One bit of trivia. The spot turned into a make-out spot with young men driving their girlfriends there to make out in the car under the city lights.

January 12, 2003

Zara Houshmand

I remember it well, on the northwest side of the city where a lot of new construction was happening. It’s no longer in the outskirts, by the way. Probably an illusion created by the surrounding hills influencing what appeared to be level or uphill. There’s a similar spot in California.

January 13, 2003

Arman Nosrati

Yes that was Parke Shahanshahi or Melat now. The way your surrounding was it would give you a sense that there is a downward slope, but it is actually opposite.

January 8. 2003

Maryam Meddin

…how eerie – I was just thinking of it the other day…

January 7, 2003

Shahrokh Mortazavi

Definitely…it was near “ Luna Park,” off of the “parkway” near meydoon-e-Vali-Ahd, I think. It was an optical illusion sure…they announced it on radio/tv one day and 100s of people went there to try it out…

January 7, 2003

Mehrdad

Dear Brian,

You were not dreaming, such a place existed ( I do not know if it’s there anymore since I have been out of the country for almost 25 years.)

As I remember it was a road in the northern part of Tehran behind a golf course. Since there were not many golf courses at the time in Tehran (and I don’t think the mullahs have built anymore golf courses.) I think it would easy to trace. I am going to ask my older brother to tell me exactly where it was and when I get more information I will let you know.

It was explained as an optical illusion. The way that road was situated and the angle it formed with it’s surroundings gave you the impression that the road was going uphill while in fact it was downhill and the car reached a speed of about 60 km/h when rolled in neutral from rest, if I remember right.

Anyway, I hope this little confirmation puts your mind at rest.

Regards,

Mehrdad

PS Maybe we should start a society of all those who have visited that place!

January 7, 2003

Farzad Hejazi

Hello there! Hey I remember that too!

It’s so funny that someone writes about this.

When I read the article, I instantly remembered it with laughter!

I must have been about 5 or 6 years old when I was in the car with my parents and brother. My dad put the car in neutral with excitement as if he wanted to show us some magic. I could not believe it. It was amazing and I still don’t know exactly how the heck it worked.

Was it really an optical illusion?

Take care,

Farzad