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Kurdistan province

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Kurdistan province is a major administrative division located in the west of Iran. It is situated within Region 3 of the country.

Kurdistan (Iran)
Kurdistan (Iran)

The province shares borders with several different areas. To the west, it sits next to the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Within Iran, it is surrounded by several other provinces. West Azerbaijan is to the north. Zanjan lies to the northeast. Hamadan is located to the east. Kermanshah borders the province to the south. The capital city of this province is Sanandaj.

Human history in this region is incredibly ancient. The earliest human occupation dates back to the Paleolithic Period. This was more than 40,000 years ago. During this era, Neanderthals lived in the Sirwan Valley.

ZeviyehSoldierSculpture
ZeviyehSoldierSculpture

The province is home to a diverse group of people. Most residents are Iranian Kurds. However, Iranian Azeris live along the eastern provincial borders. The population follows several different religious paths. A significant majority follow the Sunni denomination of Islam. Smaller groups of Shia, Yarsanism, and Christian followers also live there.

Language is a very important part of life in Kurdistan. Most people speak Kurdish, but they use different varieties. Sorani Kurdish is used by most of the Kurdish population. In the eastern parts, people speak Southern Kurdish in places like Bijar and Dezej. In southwestern villages, Gorani is the main language. Azerbaijani and Persian are also common. In the far east, people speak Oghuz Turkic varieties. These are spoken in cities such as Delbaran, Pir Taj, and Serishabad. Persian is increasingly becoming a first language in eastern areas.

Cultural traditions remain very strong in the province. People wear special clothing that has been used for centuries.

Kurdish womens dress
Kurdish womens dress
Nowruz in Bisaran 20170327 08
Nowruz in Bisaran 20170327 08

They also value Kurdish dance and singing. These traditions are popular throughout Iran. Two major celebrations are particularly important. The first is Nowruz, which marks the spring equinox. This is the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The second is Chaharshanbeh Suri. This is an ancient festival of the fire dance. It happens on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year.

Mountain child
Mountain child

People light fires on mountains and roofs to celebrate.

Hawraman female with traditional headdress
Hawraman female with traditional headdress

The economy relies heavily on the land and industry. Many inhabitants work in agriculture and modern livestock farming. They grow major products like wheat, barley, grains, and fruits. The province also has several industrial sectors. These include chemical, metal, textile, leather, and food industries.

Senneh prayer kilim 19thC
Senneh prayer kilim 19thC

Some people work as kolbars to earn a living. However, the province has one of the largest unemployment rates in Iran.

Population numbers in the province have changed significantly. In the 2006 National Census, there were 1,416,334 inhabitants. This was spread across 337,179 households. By 2011, the population reached 1,493,645 people. The 2016 census showed even more growth. It measured the population at 2,152,471 people in 471,310 households. More than 70% of these people live in cities. The most populous city is Sanandaj, with 412,767 people. Other large cities include Saqqez, Marivan, and Baneh.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:ZeviyehSoldierSculpture.jpg
ZeviyehSoldierSculpture.jpg
File:Nowruz in Bisaran 20170327 08.jpg
Nowruz in Bisaran 20170327 08.jpg
File:Kurdistan (Iran).svg
Kurdistan (Iran).svg
File:Kurdish womens dress.jpg
Kurdish womens dress.jpg
File:Hawraman female with traditional headdress.jpg
Hawraman female with traditional headdress.jpg
File:Mountain child.jpg
Mountain child.jpg
File:Kurdish New Year ceremony of Nawroz, Palangan village, Hawraman,Kurdistan.jpg
Kurdish New Year ceremony of Nawroz,...
File:Senneh prayer kilim 19thC.JPG
Senneh prayer kilim 19thC.JPG
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