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Urmia

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Urmia is a large and important city in Iran. It serves as the capital for the West Azerbaijan Province and its surrounding district. You can find the city sitting on the Urmia Plain near the Shahar River. To the west, the city is close to the borders of Turkey and Iraq. To the east, the massive Lake Urmia sits nearby. This is one of the largest salt lakes on our entire planet.

Ourmiah, Persia - Fruit Market, 1911
Ourmiah, Persia - Fruit Market, 1911

The land around the city is very good for farming. This fertile region provides many different crops for people to use. Farmers grow tobacco and many kinds of delicious fruit. Apples and grapes are especially common in this area. The city acts as a main center for trading these goods.

Ourmiah, Persia - Awaiting the Shah, 1911
Ourmiah, Persia - Awaiting the Shah, 1911

Urmia has a very deep and ancient history. Some people believe villages existed on the plain as early as 2000 BC. The city has been ruled by many different empires over many centuries. It was once the capital of the Urmia Khanate from 1747 to 1865. In 1795, the first monarch of the Qajar dynasty was even crowned here. The city has seen many changes in its name and its leaders.

Education in Iran 0003 Urmia
Education in Iran 0003 Urmia

Many different groups of people have called Urmia home. Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and Persians have lived side by side for a long time. In the past, many Christians, Jews, and Baháʼís also lived in the city. Around 1900, Christians made up more than 40% of the people living there. Today, the city remains a place where many cultures meet.

Armenian and Assyrian refugees in the avenue leading out of the Kurdish Gate, Urmia, 1918
Armenian and Assyrian refugees in the avenue leading out of the Kurdish Gate, Urmia, 1918

You can see the city's diverse past through its many buildings. There are many beautiful churches and cathedrals still standing today. These buildings show the long Christian history of the region. You can also find mosques and other religious sites in the city. Urmia is also a place for learning and modern life. The local university is an important part of the city today.

Urmia University01
Urmia University01
Old church of Urmia
Old church of Urmia
Jame mosque-Urmia (2)
Jame mosque-Urmia (2)
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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Ourmiah, Persia - Awaiting the Shah, 1911.jpeg
Ourmiah, Persia - Awaiting the Shah, 1911.jpeg
File:Ourmiah, Persia - Fruit Market, 1911.jpeg
Ourmiah, Persia - Fruit Market, 1911.jpeg
File:Armenian and Assyrian refugees in the avenue leading out of the Kurdish Gate, Urmia, 1918.png
Armenian and Assyrian refugees in the...
File:Old church of Urmia.jpg
Old church of Urmia.jpg
File:Church of Saint Mary - Urmia - Iran - کلیسای ننه مریم، ارومیه - ایران.jpg
Church of Saint Mary - Urmia - Iran -...
File:Mar Toma church urmia.jpg
Mar Toma church urmia.jpg
File:Ashiqs in Tabriz.jpg
Ashiqs in Tabriz.jpg
File:Jame mosque-Urmia (2).JPG
Jame mosque-Urmia (2).JPG
File:Education in Iran 0003 Urmia.jpg
Education in Iran 0003 Urmia.jpg
File:Urmia University01.jpg
Urmia University01.jpg
File:Talare chamran.jpg
Talare chamran.jpg
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