Zanjan, Iran

Zanjan is an important city in the country of Iran.

It serves as the capital for Zanjan province, the county, and the district. The city sits northwest of Tehran on a main highway. This road leads toward Tabriz and Turkey. Zanjan is located south of the Qaflankuh Mountain Range. It is also a long way from the Caspian Sea.

A survey by Isna found that people in Zanjan are very happy. They reported the highest levels of happiness among 30 other Iranian provinces.

The land around the city is mostly used for nature and farming. About 42% of the land is used for rainfed agriculture. Another 37% of the area is covered by grasslands. The rest of the land includes forests, orchards, and riverbanks. Only a very small part, about 1.07%, is used for buildings and roads. The weather is cool and semi-arid. This means the summers are hot and dry. The winters are cold and moist, and it often snows. Most of the rain falls between October and May.

Zanjan has a very long and interesting history. A geographer from the 14th century said the city was founded by Ardashir I. He was the first Sasanian ruler. He originally named the city "Shahin." In the year 645, the city was conquered during the Arab invasion. Later, in the 10th century, local groups called the Musafirids ruled the area. During the Ilkhanate era, people there spoke a form of Persian called Pahlavi. In 1851, the city became a center for the Babi religious movement. This period included a long siege of a local fort.

The city is home to many people and busy places. In 2016, the population was 430,871 people living in 132,469 households. Most people are Iranian Azeris. They are often bilingual, which means they speak both Azerbaijani and Persian. Visitors can explore the Zanjan bazaar, which has 940 shops. This marketplace started in 1784 and was finished in 1792. The Jameh Mosque was also built in 1826. There is even a museum that holds "saltmen" remains found in salt mines. These remains are from the Achaemenian era.

Zanjan is also a place for learning and making things. Many students go to the University of Zanjan or the University of Medical Sciences. The city is famous for making beautiful handicrafts. People there make knives, rugs, and carpets. They also do fine art called gilding to decorate books. Some people even make special shoes called charuq. For sports fans, the city has great indoor climbing walls. These are among the best in the Middle East. You can also find a football team called Shahrdari Zanjan F.C.