Zanjan Province
Encyclopedia
Zanjan Province is one of the 31 provinces
of Iran
. Located in the North West of Iran, its capital is Zanjan city
. Zanjan province with an area of 36,400 km² has a mostly rural, population of 964,601 (2006). The province lies 330 km northwest of Tehran
, connected to it via a freeway.
Zanjan also has an incredible cave called katale khor
. It is near the Sultaniyeh.
the Zanjan name is famous for IASBS, one of the most productive research centers of the country http://www.iasbs.ac.ir.
Zanjan is also known for its beautiful handcrafts such as knives, traditional sandals called charoogh and malileh. Malileh is a handcraft made with silver wires. Zanjanian artists make many things like various decorative dishes and their special covers as well as silver jewelry. In ancient times, Zanjan was known for its stainless and sharp knives. But this tradition is gradually becoming extinct by introduction of Chinese knives to the market which are cheaper and better made than these primitive industries. Many villagers today are traditional carpet weavers. This is perhaps Zanjan's most popular handcraft.
The province economy is benefiting from the its geographical location which is connecting central part of Iran to the north western provinces. The Railway and highway that connects Iran's capital city Tehran
to Tabriz
, and Turkey is passing through Zanjan Province.
Zanjan has an area of 22,164 km², occupying 1.34% of the Iranian territory. The average population density in Zanjan is 4¼ people per km. Located north west of Iran, Zanjan covers joint borders with seven provinces- East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Hamadan
, Kordestan, Gilan, Ghazvin and Ardabil
.
Shahrestan
, or counties, in Zanjan Province are:
Zanjan has a highland climate characterized by cold snowy weather in the mountains and moderate climate in the plains in wintertime. In the summers, the weather is warm. The average maximum temperature of Zanjan is around 27 °C, whereas the average minimum temperature stands at -19 °C. Meanwhile, the temperature rises to 32 °C on hot days, whereas it drops to -27 °C below zero on icy days. The average annual rainfall in the first month of spring stands at 72 millimetres, while in the second month of summer, it slips to a meagre 3.6 mm. The rate of humidity in the morning stands by average at 74% and at noon at 43%. The Zanjān River is the only major river in the region.
. Cities and villages in southwest of Zanjan province have Kurdish
population. Like every other part of Iran the lingua franca is Persian
.
. The name of Azerbaijan derives from Atropates
, an Iranian satrap
of Media
under the Achaemenid empire, who later was reinstated as the satrap
of Media
under Alexander of Macedonia. The original etymology of this name is thought to have its roots in the ancient Zoroastrianism
, namely, in Avesta
n Frawardin Yasht ("Hymn to the Guardian Angels"), there is a mentioning of: âterepâtahe ashaonô fravashîm ýazamaide, which literally translates from Old Persian as "we worship the Fravashi of the holy Atare-pata". Atropates
ruled over the region of present-day Iranian Azerbaijan.
In Ptolemy
's Geography, the city is referred to as Aganzana. It is said that the Sassanid king Ardashir I of Persia, reconstructed the city and called it Shahin but later it was renamed to Zangan, of which the present name is the arabicized form of.
In past times Zanjan's name was Khamseh, which means "province with five tribes".
Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences IASBS, in Zanjan city
, is one of Iran's most distinguished upper level education and research centers in the pure sciences. Zanjan is also home to the Zanjan University
, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, and Islamic Azad University of Zanjan.
Provinces of Iran
Iran is subdivided into thirty one provinces , each governed from a local center, usually the largest local city, which is called the capital of that province...
of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Located in the North West of Iran, its capital is Zanjan city
Zanjan (city)
Zanjan is the capital of Zanjan Province in northwestern Iran. It is an Azeri inhabited city. It lies 298 km north-west of Tehran on the main highway to Tabriz and Turkey and approximately 125 km from the Caspian Sea...
. Zanjan province with an area of 36,400 km² has a mostly rural, population of 964,601 (2006). The province lies 330 km northwest of Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, connected to it via a freeway.
Zanjan also has an incredible cave called katale khor
Katale Khor
Katale khor is a cave located in Zanjan Province, Iran. It is situated at 120 km south of Zanjan city and 410 km away from Tehran. The name, Katale khor, means "mount of Sun". Geological studies in 1984 showed that the cave formation dates back to the Jurassic period...
. It is near the Sultaniyeh.
Agriculture and industry
Agriculture is the principal occupation, and crops include rice, corn (maize), oilseeds, fruits, and potatoes. Poultry, cattle, and sheep are raised. In the region Zanjan is also famous for its seedless grapes. Manufactures include bricks, cement, milled rice, and carpets. Chromium, lead, and copper are mined. In the scientific worldScience
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
the Zanjan name is famous for IASBS, one of the most productive research centers of the country http://www.iasbs.ac.ir.
Zanjan is also known for its beautiful handcrafts such as knives, traditional sandals called charoogh and malileh. Malileh is a handcraft made with silver wires. Zanjanian artists make many things like various decorative dishes and their special covers as well as silver jewelry. In ancient times, Zanjan was known for its stainless and sharp knives. But this tradition is gradually becoming extinct by introduction of Chinese knives to the market which are cheaper and better made than these primitive industries. Many villagers today are traditional carpet weavers. This is perhaps Zanjan's most popular handcraft.
The province economy is benefiting from the its geographical location which is connecting central part of Iran to the north western provinces. The Railway and highway that connects Iran's capital city Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
to Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
, and Turkey is passing through Zanjan Province.
Geography and climate
Hamadan
-Culture:Hamadan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.Handicrafts: Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and beautiful carpets....
, Kordestan, Gilan, Ghazvin and Ardabil
Ardabil
Ardabil is a historical city in north-western Iran. The name Ardabil probably comes from the Zoroastrian name of "Artavil" which means a holy place. Ardabil is the center of Ardabil Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 412,669, in 102,818 families...
.
Shahrestan
Shahrestan
Shahrestan or Shahristan may refer to:*Counties of Iran*Shahristan District*Shahrestan, Afghanistan...
, or counties, in Zanjan Province are:
- Abhar CountyAbhar CountyAbhar County is a county in Zanjan Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Abhar. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 158,544, in 41,333 families. The county is divided into two districts: the Central District and Soltaniyeh District. The county has four cities: Abhar,...
- Eejrud CountyEejrud CountyIjrud County is a county in Zanjan Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Zarrinabad. At the 2006 census, its population was 35,661, in 9,029 families. The county is subdivided into two districts: the Central District and Halab District. The county has two cities: Zarrinabad and...
- Khodabandeh CountyKhodabandeh CountyKhodabandeh County is a county in Zanjan Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Qidar. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 161,696, in 36,121 families. The county is subdivided into four districts: the Central District, Afshar District, Bizineh Rud District, and Sojas Rud...
- Khorramdarreh CountyKhorramdarreh CountyKhorramdarreh County is a county in Zanjan Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Khorramdarreh. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 60,027, in 15,317 families. The county has one district: the Central District...
- Zanjan CountyZanjan CountyZanjan County is a county in Zanjan Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Zanjan. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 442,728, in 113,883 families. The county is subdivided into three districts: the Central District , Zanjanrud District, and Qareh Poshtelu District...
- Tarom CountyTarom CountyTarom County is a county in Zanjan Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Ab Bar. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 42,939, in 10,734 families. The county was subdivided into two districts: the Central District and Chavarzaq District...
- Mahneshan CountyMahneshan CountyMahneshan County is a county in Zanjan Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Mah Neshan. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 51,223, in 9,354 families. The county is subdivided into two districts: the Central and Anguran District...
Zanjan has a highland climate characterized by cold snowy weather in the mountains and moderate climate in the plains in wintertime. In the summers, the weather is warm. The average maximum temperature of Zanjan is around 27 °C, whereas the average minimum temperature stands at -19 °C. Meanwhile, the temperature rises to 32 °C on hot days, whereas it drops to -27 °C below zero on icy days. The average annual rainfall in the first month of spring stands at 72 millimetres, while in the second month of summer, it slips to a meagre 3.6 mm. The rate of humidity in the morning stands by average at 74% and at noon at 43%. The Zanjān River is the only major river in the region.
Demographics
Azeris are the main ethnic group in the province followed by TatsTats
Tats are an Iranian people, presently living within Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia ....
. Cities and villages in southwest of Zanjan province have Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
population. Like every other part of Iran the lingua franca is Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
.
History
Zanjan city was a major ciry in pre-historicAzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. The name of Azerbaijan derives from Atropates
Atropates
Atropates was a Persian nobleman who served Darius III, then Alexander III of Macedon, and eventually founded an independent kingdom and dynasty that was named after him...
, an Iranian satrap
Satrap
Satrap was the name given to the governors of the provinces of the ancient Median and Achaemenid Empires and in several of their successors, such as the Sassanid Empire and the Hellenistic empires....
of Media
Medes
The MedesThe Medes...
under the Achaemenid empire, who later was reinstated as the satrap
Satrap
Satrap was the name given to the governors of the provinces of the ancient Median and Achaemenid Empires and in several of their successors, such as the Sassanid Empire and the Hellenistic empires....
of Media
Medes
The MedesThe Medes...
under Alexander of Macedonia. The original etymology of this name is thought to have its roots in the ancient Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
, namely, in Avesta
Avesta
The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language.-Early transmission:The texts of the Avesta — which are all in the Avestan language — were composed over the course of several hundred years. The most important portion, the Gathas,...
n Frawardin Yasht ("Hymn to the Guardian Angels"), there is a mentioning of: âterepâtahe ashaonô fravashîm ýazamaide, which literally translates from Old Persian as "we worship the Fravashi of the holy Atare-pata". Atropates
Atropates
Atropates was a Persian nobleman who served Darius III, then Alexander III of Macedon, and eventually founded an independent kingdom and dynasty that was named after him...
ruled over the region of present-day Iranian Azerbaijan.
In Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
's Geography, the city is referred to as Aganzana. It is said that the Sassanid king Ardashir I of Persia, reconstructed the city and called it Shahin but later it was renamed to Zangan, of which the present name is the arabicized form of.
In past times Zanjan's name was Khamseh, which means "province with five tribes".
Colleges and universities
Zanjan (city)
Zanjan is the capital of Zanjan Province in northwestern Iran. It is an Azeri inhabited city. It lies 298 km north-west of Tehran on the main highway to Tabriz and Turkey and approximately 125 km from the Caspian Sea...
, is one of Iran's most distinguished upper level education and research centers in the pure sciences. Zanjan is also home to the Zanjan University
Zanjan University
The Zanjan University is a university located in Zanjan, Iran. It was founded in 1975 and is organized in 4 Faculties.-History:ZNU started its activities in 1975, on a formal basis...
, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, and Islamic Azad University of Zanjan.