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Zanjan, Iran

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Zanjan is a major city located in the northwest of Iran. It serves as the capital for Zanjan province, Zanjan County, and the central district. The city is situated on a primary highway that connects Tehran to Tabriz and Turkey. Geographically, it sits south of the Qaflankuh Mountain Range. It is also located a significant distance from the Caspian Sea.

Walled enclosure Zengan by Eugène Flandin
Walled enclosure Zengan by Eugène Flandin

According to a survey by Isna, the residents of Zanjan report the highest levels of happiness among 30 other Iranian provinces.

The climate in Zanjan is classified as a cool semi-arid climate. This specific type of climate is known as Köppen BSk. During the summer months, the weather is hot and dry. The winters are cold and moist, and the region often experiences snowfall. Precipitation levels are very low throughout the year. Most of the rain and snow falls between the months of October and May.

The landscape surrounding the city is defined by its natural use. Rainfed agriculture, which relies on rainfall rather than irrigation, covers 42% of the land. Grasslands account for another 37% of the area. The remaining land consists of forests, orchards, riverbanks, bareland, and irrigated agriculture. Urban development, which includes buildings and roads, occupies only 1.07% of the total land cover.

N (4) (Custom)
N (4) (Custom)

Zanjan possesses a deep and complex history spanning many eras. The 14th-century geographer Hamdallah Mustawfi suggested that Ardashir I founded the city. Ardashir I was the first Sasanian ruler. He reportedly named the city "Shahin." In 645, the city was conquered during the Arab invasion by a force led by al-Barra ibn Azib. During the Ilkhanate era from 1256 to 1335, inhabitants spoke a northern form of Persian called "pure Pahlavi." A significant historical event occurred in 1851 during the Babi religious movement. Following a long siege, central government forces captured a Babi fort in the city.

The city is a growing urban center with a diverse population. In 2016, the census recorded 430,871 people living in 132,469 households. This makes Zanjan the 20th largest city in Iran. Most of the population consists of Iranian Azeris. These residents are often bilingual, speaking both Azerbaijani and Persian. A 2017 study noted that many Azerbaijani-speaking families in the city are shifting toward using Persian.

Zanjan features several notable historical and cultural sites. The Zanjan bazaar is a large marketplace that was completed in 1792. It contains 940 shops divided into the Bazaar-e Bala and Bazaar-e Paieen. The Jameh Mosque, also called the Seyyed Mosque, was constructed in 1826. For science and history, the Saltmen Museum holds six naturally preserved human remains. These "saltmen" were discovered in 1993 in the Chehrabad salt mines and date back to the Achaemenian era. Other sites include the Sangi Caravanserai, an ancient roadside inn from the Safavi era.

The city is also a hub for industry, education, and athletics. Local industries include lead production, textile weaving, and electrical production. Zanjan is famous for specific handicrafts like knives, filigree, and gilding. Gilding is the art of applying thin layers of gold to decorate objects. The city hosts several institutions, such as the University of Zanjan and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences. For athletes, the Enghelab sports complex contains some of the best indoor climbing walls in the Middle East. The local football team is known as Shahrdari Zanjan F.C.

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