Fars province

Fars Province is a major administrative region in southwest Iran.

It covers a total area of 122,400 square kilometers. The capital city of the province is Shiraz.

Fars is located in Iran's Region 2. It shares borders with several other provinces. Bushehr lies to the west. Hormozgan is to the south. Kerman and Yazd are to the east. Isfahan sits to the north. Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad is to the northwest. This location has made the province a central part of the country's geography.

The province contains three distinct climatic regions. The first region is in the north and northwest. This area is mountainous. It has moderate cold winters and mild summers. The second region is the central part of the province. It has relatively rainy and mild winters. It also has hot and dry summers. The third region is in the south and southeast. This area has cold winters and hot summers. The average temperature in the capital, Shiraz, is 16.8 °C. This temperature ranges between 4.7 °C and 29.2 °C. These different climates allow for a wide variety of plants and wildlife.

Because of the varied environment, many animals live in Fars. Native animals include the gazelle and the deer. You can also find mountain wild goats, rams, and ewes. In the past, the Persian lion lived in this region. Many birds migrate to Fars every year. These include ducks, storks, and swallows that arrive in an annual parade. The province contains several protected wildlife zones. These include Bamu National Park, which is northeast of Shiraz. Other zones are the Toot Siah Hunt Forbidden Zone and the Basiran Hunt Forbidden Zone. The Estahban Forest Park is located near Touraj mountain. The Arjan Meadow and Lake Parishan are also recognized as Wetlands of International Importance.

The history of Fars is tied to the origins of the Persian people. The name Fars comes from the Old Persian word Pârs. This is also the root of the English word "Persia."

The region was the homeland of the Achaemenid and Sasanian dynasties. The Achaemenid Empire was established in the mid-6th century BC. At its peak, it stretched from Eastern Europe to the Indus Valley. This empire was defeated by Alexander the Great in 333 BC. After this, the Seleucid Empire was established. Later, the Parthian Empire took control in 238 BC. The Sassanian Empire rose to power after Ardashir I defeated the Parthians. Ardashir I was crowned in 226 at Ctesiphon. The Sassanian Empire ruled for 425 years until Muslim armies conquered the region in the 7th century.

Ancient ruins provide physical evidence of this long history. The ruins of Persepolis and Pasargadae are located here.

These were two of the four capitals of the Achaemenid Empire. You can also see the ruins of Bishapur and Firuzabad. The Sarvestan Palace is another important historical site.

A Sassanid relief also shows the investiture of Ardashir I.

These monuments are considered important pieces of world heritage. They reflect the history of Iran and West Asia.

The population of Fars has grown steadily over recent decades. In 2006, the population was 4,220,721 people. By 2011, it reached 4,596,658 people. The 2016 census measured the population at 4,851,274 people. Most residents live in urban areas. In 2011, 67.6% of people were urban dwellers. About 32.1% lived in villages, and 0.3% were part of nomad tribes. Shiraz is the most populous city with over 1.5 million people. Other large cities include Marvdasht, Jahrom, and Fasa.

Agriculture is also a very important part of the local economy.

Many different ethnic groups live in the province today. The main group consists of indigenous Persians. This includes the Larestani and the Basseri people. There are also minority groups such as the Qashqai, Lurs, Arabs, and Kurds. Various Kurdish tribes, like the Uriad and Zangana, live here as well. Historically, Georgians and Circassians were moved to the region under Shah Abbas I. They were often settled to guard caravan routes. Over time, most of these groups assimilated into the local population. This mix of people contributes to the unique cultural heritage of the province.