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Lorestan province

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Lorestan is a large province in the western part of Iran.

Lorestan
Lorestan

It sits within the beautiful Zagros Mountains. The land is shaped by scenic valleys and high peaks. It is located about 100 kilometers east of the border with Iraq. The province covers a huge area of 28,392 square kilometers. Its capital city is Khorramabad.

پل کشکان
پل کشکان

This city is also the largest Luri-speaking city in the whole world.

Many different groups of people have lived here over a long time. The name Lorestan actually means "land of the Lurs." Most people in the province are Lurs, and they speak the Luri language. In the northern parts, you will find many Kurds. The Lak tribe is one of these Kurdish groups. In 1980, it was estimated that Laks made up over 65% of the population. Today, many people live in cities like Borujerd and Dorud.

The history of this land goes back thousands of years. Migrant tribes settled in the Zagros Mountains during the 3rd and 4th millennium BC. An ancient people called the Kassites lived here too. They even controlled Babylonia for a long time. Later, the Medes and the Persians ruled the region. Archaeologists even found new discoveries from the Achaemenid era in 2017. These finds help us learn more about how people lived long ago.

Lorestan is very famous for its beautiful bronze artworks. These pieces are often called "Luristan bronze." Many of these objects show animals in a very lively style.

Disc-headed pin zoom (2) Bronze Beaker Luristan 1000 BC (Rietberg museum)
Disc-headed pin zoom (2) Bronze Beaker Luristan 1000 BC (Rietberg museum)

While many famous pieces date to 1000 to 650 BC, the tradition is even older. People have been making bronze items here since the mid-3rd millennium BC. You can now find these treasures in museums all over the world.

Cave painting in Doushe cave, Lorstan, Iran, 8th millennium BC
Cave painting in Doushe cave, Lorstan, Iran, 8th millennium BC

Life in Lorestan has changed many times due to different rulers. In the 1920s, the state wanted to change how the local tribes lived. This led to many difficult times and conflicts between the tribes and the army. Some tribes, like the Beiranvand, fought hard to keep their way of life. By the year 2016, more than 1.7 million people lived in the province. Most of these people, over 64%, live in various cities.

Oshtoran kuhj
Oshtoran kuhj
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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Cave painting in Doushe cave, Lorstan, Iran, 8th millennium BC.JPG
Cave painting in Doushe cave, Lorstan,...
File:Disc-headed pin zoom (2) Bronze Beaker Luristan 1000 BC (Rietberg museum).JPG
Disc-headed pin zoom (2) Bronze Beaker...
File:پل کشکان.jpg
پل کشکان.jpg
File:Lorestan.svg
Lorestan.svg
File:Oshtoran kuhj.jpg
Oshtoran kuhj.jpg
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