Ardabil province

Coordinates: 38°26′N 48°06′E / 38.433°N 48.100°E / 38.433; 48.100
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Ardabil Province
استان اردبیل
Map of Iran with Ardabil province highlighted
Location of Ardabil province within Iran
Coordinates: 38°26′N 48°06′E / 38.433°N 48.100°E / 38.433; 48.100
CountryIran
RegionRegion 3
CapitalArdabil
Counties12
Government
 • Governor-generalHamed Ameli
 • MPs of Assembly of ExpertsHassan Ameli and Fakhreddin Mousavi
 • Representative of the Supreme LeaderHassan Ameli
Area
 • Total17,800 km2 (6,900 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total1,270,420
 • Density71/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+03:30 (IRST)
Main language(s)Persian (official)
local languages:
Azerbaijani
Tati
Talysh
HDI (2017)0.756[1]
high · 28th

Ardabil Province (Persian: استان اردبیل) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the northwest of the country, in Region 3, bordering the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the Iranian provinces of East Azerbaijan, Zanjan, and Gilan.[2] Its administrative centre is the city of Ardabil. The province, spanning an area of 18,011 km2, and established in 1993, was carved out of the eastern part of East Azerbaijan province.

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the province had a population of 1,209,968 in 281,433 households.[3] The following census in 2011 counted 1,248,488 people in 337,943 households.[4] According to the National Census of 2016, the population of Ardabil province had risen to 1,270,420 inhabitants in 377,423 households.[5]

Administrative divisions[edit]

Ardabil province population history
Administrative Divisions 2006[3] 2011[4] 2016[5]
Ardabil County 542,930 564,365 605,992
Aslan Duz County1
Bileh Savar County 54,471 53,768 51,404
Germi County 89,248 84,267 76,901
Khalkhal County 92,315 92,332 86,731
Kowsar County 27,472 26,198 22,127
Meshgin Shahr County 156,141 151,156 149,941
Namin County 59,242 61,333 60,659
Nir County 23,573 23,656 20,864
Parsabad County 164,576 173,182 177,601
Sareyn County2 18,231 18,200
Ungut County3
Total 1,209,968 1,248,488 1,270,420
1Separated from Parsabad County in 2017.[6]
2Separated from Ardabil County
3Separated from Germi County in 2020

Cities[edit]

According to the 2016 census, 866,034 people (over 68% of the population of Ardabil province) live in the following cities: Abi Beyglu 6,516, Anbaran 5,757, Ardabil 529,374, Aslan Duz 6,348, Bileh Savar 16,188, Eslamabad 3,068, Fakhrabad 999, Germi 28,967, Hashatjin 5,725, Hir 2,080, Jafarabad 7,226, Khalkhal 39,304, Kivi 7,101, Kolowr 2,347, Kuraim 831, Lahrud 2,149, Meshginshahr 74,109, Moradlu 671, Namin 13,659, Nir 5,873, Parsabad 93,387, Qosabeh 2,095, Razey 1,581, Sareyn 5,459, Tazeh Kand-e Angut 2,645, and Tazeh Kand-e Qadim 2,575.[5]

Geography[edit]

Many tourists come to the region for its cool climate (max 35 °C (95°F)) during the hot summer months. The winters are bitterly cold, with temperatures plummeting to −25 °C (-13°F).

Its famous natural region is the Sabalan mountains.[clarification needed] The province is considered the coldest province in Iran by many. Large parts of the province are green and forested.

Ardabil's capital stands about 70 km from the Caspian Sea. Neighboring the Caspian Sea and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the city is of political and economic significance.[citation needed]

History[edit]

Sheikh Safi's Tomb

The natural features of the province of Ardabil are mentioned in the Avesta, according to which Zoroaster was born by the river Aras and wrote his book in the Sabalan Mountains. During the Muslim conquest of Iran, Ardabil was the largest city in Azarbaijan, and remained so until the Mongol invasion period.[citation needed]

Shah Ismail I started his campaign to nationalize Iran's government and land from here, but consequently announced Tabriz as his capital in 1500 CE. Yet Ardabil remained an important city both politically and economically until modern times.[citation needed]

Culture[edit]

Ardabil is the seat of the sanctuary and tomb of Shaikh Safî ad-Dîn, eponym of the Safavid dynasty Kulliye. It has many hot springs and natural landscapes which attract tourists.[citation needed] The mineral springs of Ardabil are Beele-Darreh, Sareyn, Sardabeh and Booshloo, which are known throughout Iran for their medicinal qualities. It also has a number of lakes: the largest of which are Ne'or, Shoorabil, ShoorGel, NouShahr and Alooche, which are the habitats of some species of water birds.

Lake Ne'or is located in a mountainous area 48 km south-east of the city of Ardabil. It covers an area of 2.1 km2 and has an average depth of 3 metres. It is fed by springs in the lake bed. Lake Shoorabil is located in a hilly area south of the city of Ardabil and covers an area of 640,000 m2. The surface of the lake is covered with a thin white layer of minerals, which is useful for healing skin diseases and rheumatism. Near the lake there is the leisure complex of Shoorabil. Ardabil is a city of great antiquity. Its origins go back 4000 to 6000 years (according to historical research in this city). This city was the capital of Azerbaijan province in different times, but its golden age was in the Safavid period.

One of the most ancient cities in Iran is Meshkin Shahr. It is located in the north-west of Iran in Azerbaijan, 839 kilometers from Tehran. It is the closest city to the Sabalan mountains. In the past, it was called "Khiav", "Orami", and "Varavi".

Colleges and universities[edit]

Language[edit]

The primary language of Ardabil province is Azerbaijani, a Turkic language.[7][8][9] Other languages in Ardabil include Tati and Talysh. In and around Khalkhal, there is a significant group of Kurmanji-speaking Kurds known as Gormanj.[10] [11]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  2. ^ "همشهری آنلاین-استان‌های کشور به ۵ منطقه تقسیم شدند (Provinces were divided into 5 regions)". Hamshahri Online (in Persian). 22 June 2014 [1 Tir 1393, Jalaali]. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006)". AMAR (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 24. Archived from the original (Excel) on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011)" (Excel). Iran Data Portal (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 24. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016)". AMAR (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 24. Archived from the original (Excel) on 22 March 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  6. ^ Jahangiri, Ishaq (24 March 2017). "Approval letter regarding country divisions in Parsabad County of Ardabil province". Islamic Parliament Research Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran (in Persian). Ministry of Interior. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  7. ^ Iran A Country Study, Author Federal Research Division, Edition reprint, Publisher Kessinger Publishing, 2004, ISBN 1-4191-2670-9, ISBN 978-1-4191-2670-3, Length 340 pages
  8. ^ Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: S-Z Volume 4 of Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: Ethnic and National Groups Around the World, James Minahan, ISBN 0-313-31617-1, ISBN 978-0-313-31617-3, Author James Minahan, Publisher Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002, ISBN 0-313-32384-4, ISBN 978-0-313-32384-3, Length 2241 pages
  9. ^ "CIAO". Archived from the original on 2007-12-01. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  10. ^ "گذری بر تاریخچه کُردهای خلخال".
  11. ^ "Talysh".

External links[edit]