Zanjan, Iran

Zanjan (Persian: زنجان, pronounced [zænˈdʒɒːn] (listen);[2] Azerbaijani: زنگان) is the capital of Zanjan Province in Iran. It lies 298 km (185 mi) north-west of Tehran on the main highway to Tabriz and Turkey and approximately 125 km (78 mi) from the Caspian Sea. The city is located about 20 kilometers south of the Qaflankuh Mountain Range. At the 2016 census, its population was 521,302 which is the 20th largest city in Iran. The population of Zanjan consists mostly of Iranian Azeris who can also speak the Azerbaijani language.[3] Zanjan is 21733 square kilometers.

"Zenjan" redirects here. For the village in Isfahan Province, see Zaranjan. For the province, see Zanjan Province.
Zanjan

زنجان

زنگان
City
Seal
Zanjan
Coordinates: 36°40′N 48°29′E
Country Iran
Region3
ProvinceZanjan
CountyZanjan
BakhshCentral
Government
 • MayorMasihollah Maasoumi
 • ParliamentWaqfchi & Ahmadi
Elevation
1,638 m (5,374 ft)
Population
 (2016 census)
 • Urban
430,871 [1]
 • Rank
20th in Iran
Time zoneUTC+3:30 (IRST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+4:30 (IRST)
Websitewww.Zanjan.ir

Zanjan is known for its beautiful handcrafts such as knives, traditional sandals, called charoogh, and malileh, a handcraft made with silver wires. Zanjani 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-made knives into the market which are far cheaper, more abundant and less artistic . Many villagers today are traditional carpet weavers, perhaps Zanjan's most popular handcraft. Zanjan's population boasts the highest level of happiness among the people of 30 other provinces in Iran, according to a detailed survey conducted by Isna.[4]

History
Drawing by Eugène Flandin

Hamdollah Mostowfi, the Iranian traveler and historian, in his book claims that Zanjan was built by Ardashir I, the first king of the Sassanid Empire and named as "Shahin".[5] One important moment in the history of the city was in 1851 when the city became a center for the suppressed Babi religious movement, along with Neyriz and a fortress known as Shaykh Tabarsi. The forces of the central government captured the Babi fort in Zanjan after a long siege on the orders of Grand Vizier (Prime Minister of Iran) Amir Kabir and killed or expelled the Bab's followers.[6] According to Bosworth, who quotes Hamdollah Mostowfi, the inhabitants during the Ilkhanid era spoke "pure Pahlawi", a Median or northern form of Persian.[7]

Geography

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, rainfed agriculture makes up around 42% of Zanjan's land cover and grasslands account for another 37%. The remainder is bareland, irrigated agriculture, forest, orchard and riverbanks. Only 1.07% of the land is urban development.[8]

Climate

Zanjan has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk) with hot, dry summers and cold, moist winters, often with snowfall. Precipitation is very low, and mostly falls between October and May.

Climate data for Zanjan
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.0
(62.6)		 22.0
(71.6)		 25.0
(77.0)		 27.0
(80.6)		 32.0
(89.6)		 38.0
(100.4)		 40.0
(104.0)		 39.4
(102.9)		 35.0
(95.0)		 30.0
(86.0)		 23.0
(73.4)		 18.0
(64.4)		 40.0
(104.0)
Average high °C (°F) 2.1
(35.8)		 4.3
(39.7)		 10.3
(50.5)		 17.0
(62.6)		 22.8
(73.0)		 28.8
(83.8)		 32.2
(90.0)		 31.6
(88.9)		 28.1
(82.6)		 20.4
(68.7)		 12.7
(54.9)		 5.5
(41.9)		 18.0
(64.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) −3
(27)		 −0.8
(30.6)		 4.9
(40.8)		 11.0
(51.8)		 16.4
(61.5)		 21.7
(71.1)		 25.2
(77.4)		 24.4
(75.9)		 20.3
(68.5)		 13.5
(56.3)		 6.8
(44.2)		 0.4
(32.7)		 11.73
(53.12)
Average low °C (°F) −8.1
(17.4)		 −6.4
(20.5)		 −1.2
(29.8)		 3.7
(38.7)		 7.6
(45.7)		 11.2
(52.2)		 14.9
(58.8)		 14.2
(57.6)		 9.9
(49.8)		 5.5
(41.9)		 0.7
(33.3)		 −4.4
(24.1)		 4.0
(39.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 33.5
(1.32)		 30.0
(1.18)		 45.7
(1.80)		 56.5
(2.22)		 46.2
(1.82)		 7.3
(0.29)		 4.6
(0.18)		 3.4
(0.13)		 4.2
(0.17)		 26.0
(1.02)		 28.8
(1.13)		 29.2
(1.15)		 315.4
(12.41)
Average precipitation days 10.7 9.4 12.5 12.3 11.1 3.3 2.1 2.3 1.7 6.5 7.3 9.6 88.8
Average relative humidity (%) 72 69 61 54 49 40 38 39 38 49 59 68 53
Mean monthly sunshine hours 150.1 139.3 172.5 213.3 267.2 328.9 334.5 317.3 295.8 229.3 164.7 137.0 2,749.9
Source: NOAA (1961–1990)[9]

Main sights in the city of Zanjan
Soltaniyeh Dome

Zanjan bazaar

Zanjan's bazaar is a public marketplace that started in Agha Mohammadkhan Ghajar-era in 1784 CE, and completed in 1792 CE during the Fath-Ali Shah-era.[10] Mosques and a bath were added later. This bazaar has 940 shops, which consist of two defined parts, namely Bazaar-e Bala (upper bazaar) and Bazaar-e Paieen (lower bazaar).[10] Vendors are organized by their professions and commodities.[10]

Jameh Mosque of Zanjan

The central mosque of Zanjan is also known as the Seyyed Mosque (Masjid-e-Seyyed), this was constructed in 1826 during the Qajar-era, by one of Fath-Ali Shah's sons.[11] This mosque was built in the old area of the city and it's the religious center of Zajan.

Saltmen museum at Zolfaghari House

It's built on Imam Street. This building holds six naturally preserved human remains called saltmen or “namaki”, which had been discovered in 1993 in the Chehrabad salt mines. These remains are originally from Achaemenian-era.

Tofighi’s building

Tofighi's building is related to last parts of Qajar-era and Pahlavi-era. It's built on Imam Street. It was a house of the greatest man of Zanjan that was mayor of city. This building has 2 floors and consists of a symmetrical form.

Match company (3 stars match company)

Match company is related to Pahlavi's era and located on Safa street. It has a beautiful head. It is the second company of city and constructed before the second world war by Mahmud Shalchi. It has an exclusive brick chimney.

Dadamaan Hotel Zanjan

The old abbey was constructed 200 years ago in the area of Enghelab square which is the most central and oldest part of Zanjan. It initially served as a caravanserai and then for approx. 80 years it was the house of one of Zanjan's scholars, Sheikh Jalal Ashabi.

It had been uninhabited for 20 years after the passing of the Seikh from 1997. It began to be renovated in 2017 and now serves as a traditional hotel.

Sangi Caravanserai

The Sangi Caravanserai (stone caravanserai) is an ancient roadside inn, constructed in Safavi-era and was converted into a restaurant in the 1990s.[12][13] It's a single story stone building that has four iwans (porches) and a ceiling that is arcuate.

Rakhtshooy Khaneh Edifice

A historical wash-house and Iranian national heritage site, that is currently being used as Zanjan anthropological museum.

Industries

•Lead

•Zinc

•Pasteurized milk

•Chemical productions

•Weaving

•Cotton

•Food productions

•Transformator

•Electrical productions

Handicrafts

The most famous handicrafts are knives, charuq (a local style of women's shoes, similar to clodhopper shoes),[14] filigree and gilding. Gilding is the one important art for decoration the books and calligraphies. Other handicrafts include coppersmithing, rug weaving and carpet weaving (including Kilm and Jajim style).[14]

Colleges and universities

Zanjan is also home to several universities such as:

Sports

Zanjan is known for having one of the best indoor sport climbing walls in the Middle East, located in Enghelab sports complex. The facility also includes standard speed climbing walls. The city's football team is Shahrdari Zanjan F.C., who play in the 2nd Division.[15]

Notable people

For a complete list see: Category:People from Zanjan, Iran

Sister cities

See also

References
  1. https://www.amar.org.ir/english
  2. Zanjan, Iran can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3088976" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
  3. "Iran". google.com.
  4. "ایسنا - شادترين استانهاي ايران كدامند؟". isna.ir.
  5. "همشهريان اردشير بابكان هنوز هم چاروق مي پوشند". rugart.org. 2008-07-30. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
  6. Abdu'l-Bahá, Edward Granville. "A Traveller's Narrative Written to Illustrate the Episode of the Báb", Published by Kalimat Press, 2004, ISBN 1-890688-37-1, ISBN 978-1-890688-37-0
  7. Bosworth, C.E.,"Zanjan", Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Ed., vol. 11:447. "... and also stated that the inhabitants spoke "pure Pahlawi", i.e. a Median or northern form of Persian"
  8. "Zanjan Province - Land Cover Map" (PDF). Food and Agriculture Organization.
  9. "Zanjan Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  10. "Zanjan Bazaar". Iran Daily. 2015-05-04. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  11. Rasaneh, Sirang. "Zanjan Jame' (Seyed) Mosque in Zanjan, Travel to IRAN". itto.org | Iran Tourism & Touring. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  12. "Caravanserai Sangi Registered as National Monument". Tehran Times. 1998-12-01. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  13. "Canning Town Caravanserai". Caravanserai in the Modern World. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  14. Rasaneh, Sirang. "Handicrafts and Souvenirs of Zanjan in Zanjan, Travel to IRAN". itto.org | Iran Tourism & Touring. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
  15. Shahrdari Zanjan F.C.
  16. "Zanjan sister Malacca, Malaysia". Zanjan Shora. 2013-09-29. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
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