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Ardabil

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Ardabil is a large city located in northwestern Iran.

Ardabil Airport
Ardabil Airport

It sits on an open plain in the Ardabil province. The city is near the borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

It is also close to the high Mount Sabalan.

Savalan bali
Savalan bali

The city rests along the Baliqly Chay River. Many people live here, with a population of 588,000 in 2022. Most people in the area are Shia Muslims. They often speak Azeri or Persian.

The weather in Ardabil can be quite extreme. The climate is cold and semi-arid. This means the summers are warm and very dry. However, the winters are long and bitterly cold.

نمایی از دبیرستان صفوی اردبیل در یک روز برفی
نمایی از دبیرستان صفوی اردبیل در یک روز برفی

Snow often covers the city during these months. The coldest temperature ever recorded there was −33.8 °C. Because of this, many tourists visit during the summer. They enjoy the milder weather when it is not too hot.

Ardabil has a very long and busy history. Some stories say a Sasanian king founded the city. It was once a very important center for many groups. The city has faced many attacks over the centuries. For example, the Mongols sacked the city in 1220. Later, the city was often caught in wars between the Ottomans and Persians. During the 1800s, Russian troops even occupied the town.

نمایی از میدان سرچشمه اردبیل در سال ۱۳۴۸
نمایی از میدان سرچشمه اردبیل در سال ۱۳۴۸

Even after these hard times, the city grew again.

One of the most famous things about Ardabil is its trade. The city is known for making silk and beautiful carpets.

Ardabil-glim
Ardabil-glim

The Ardabil rugs are famous all over the world. They are considered some of the best classical Persian carpets ever made. One special pair of carpets was made for a shrine in the 1530s. The work was signed by a man named Maqsud Kashani. These carpets are so special that one is kept in a museum in London.

Portrait of Shah Ismail I. Inscribed "Ismael Sophy Rex Pers". Painted by Cristofano dell'Altissimo, dated 1552-1568
Portrait of Shah Ismail I. Inscribed "Ismael Sophy Rex Pers". Painted by Cristofano dell'Altissimo, dated 1552-1568

History and religion are also very important here. The city is home to the Sheikh Safi al-Din shrine.

نمایی از میدان سرچشمه اردبیل در سال ۱۳۳۵
نمایی از میدان سرچشمه اردبیل در سال ۱۳۳۵

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It contains the tomb of Ismail I, who started the Safavid Empire. The city also has many natural wonders. There are mineral hot springs that people use for healing. There are also several lakes, like Lake Ne'or, where water birds live. These features make Ardabil a very special place to visit.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:Ardebil int coninckryck van Persien - Peeters Jacob - 1690.jpg
Ardebil int coninckryck van Persien -...
File:Portrait of Shah Ismail I. Inscribed "Ismael Sophy Rex Pers". Painted by Cristofano dell'Altissimo, dated 1552-1568.jpg
Portrait of Shah Ismail I. Inscribed...
File:Ardabil Airport.jpg
Ardabil Airport.jpg
File:Ardabil-glim.JPG
Ardabil-glim.JPG
File:Savalan bali.jpg
Savalan bali.jpg
File:نمایی از دبیرستان صفوی اردبیل در یک روز برفی.jpg
نمایی از دبیرستان صفوی اردبیل در یک روز برفی.jpg
File:نمایی از میدان سرچشمه اردبیل در سال ۱۳۳۵.jpg
نمایی از میدان سرچشمه اردبیل در سال ۱۳۳۵.jpg
File:نمایی از میدان سرچشمه اردبیل در سال ۱۳۴۸.jpg
نمایی از میدان سرچشمه اردبیل در سال ۱۳۴۸.jpg
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