Introduction

East Azarbaijan (Persian: آذربایجان شرقی, Āzarbāyjān-e S<caron>arqi) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the northwest of the country, bordering Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the provinces of Ardabil, West Azarbaijan, and Zanjan. Its capital is Tabriz.

Geography

The province covers an area of approximately 47,830 sq. km. According to the latest divisions of the country in 1996, the various townships of this province are: Ahar , Bostan Abad , Bonab , Tabriz, Jolfa, Sarab , Shabestar , Kalibar , Maraqeh , Marand, Malekan , Mianeh , Haris , and Hashtrood . The historical city of Tabriz is the most important city of this province, culturally, politically, economically and commercially. The province has common borders with the current Republics of Azarbaijan, Armenia and Nakhjavan. A fine network of roads and railways connect East Azarbaijan to other parts of Iran and also to neighboring countries.

The highest peak of East Azarbaijan is Sahand Mountain at 3,722 m of elevation, lying south of Tabriz, whereas the lower lying areas are around Garmadooz (Ahar). The heights of the province may be classified into three sectors, namely: the Qara Daq Mountains, the Sahand and Bozqoosh Mountains, and the Qaflan Kooh Mountains.

Generally speaking, East Azarbaijan enjoys a cool, dry climate, being in the main a mountainous region. But the gentle breezes off the Caspian Sea have some influence on the climate of the low-lying areas. Temperatures run up to 8.9°C in Tabriz, and 20°C in Maraqeh, in the winter dropping to -1°C. The ideal seasons to visit this province are in the spring and summer months.

History and Culture

East Azarbaijan is one of the more archaic territories in Iran. During the reign of Alexander the Macedonian in Iran (331 BC), a warrior known as Attorpat led a revolt in this area, then a territory of the Medes, and thereafter it was called Attorpatkan. Since then this vicinity has been known as Azarabadegan, Azarbadgan and Azarbayjan.

Islamic researchers proclaim that the birth of the Zoroaster was in this area, in the vicinity of Lake Orumieh (Chichesht), Konzak city. Needless to say, this province was subject to numerous political and economical upheavals, attracting the interest of foreigners. The Russians in particular have tried to exert a lasting influence in the region over the past 300 years, occupying the area on numerous occasions. The constitutionalist movement of Iran began here in the late 1800s.

The most outstanding features from a cultural point of view is the language and folklore of this region. The language is Azari. Apart from this the province also boasts numerous learned scholars, gnostics, several national poets such as Mowlana Baba Mazeed, Khajeh Abdol Raheem Aj Abadi, Sheikh Hassan Bolqari, and Abdolqader Nakhjavani, to name a few, and the contemporary poet Ostad Mohammad Hossein Shahriyar . The current leader of Iran also originally comes from this region.

Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization has registered 936 sites of historical significance in the province.

East Azarbaijan today

East Azarbaijan province is an industrial centre of Iran. East Azarbaijan province has over 5000 manufacturing units, of which at least 800 are industrial (6% percent of national total). The value of product from these units in 1997 totalled US$374 million (373 billion rials = 4.07% of the national total). Total investments were valued at US$2.7 billion (2.4513 trillion rials) in 1997.^[1]

Some of the major industries include Azar glass industries, Maraqeh paper manufacturing, Ahar Sungun copper and nepheline syenite, the Tabriz Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, Tabriz Tractor Manufacturing Co., Azarbaijan steel, foundry and auto-part manufacturing, food industries, leather and shoe industry, and the Tabriz Machine Manufacturing Co.

Tabriz also has an excellent position in the handicraft industry of Iran, having a large share in the exports of the province. Tabriz carpets are known around the world and in international markets for their designs and colors. Without exaggeration, Persian rugs owe their fame to the creative minds of the designers and the deft hands of the carpet weavers of East Azarbaijan.

At present there are about 66,000 carpet production units in the province, employing some 200,000 people. The annual production of these carpets is roughly 792,000 m², which comprises more than 70% of Iran's carpet exports. 35% of all Iranian carpets are produced in East Azarbaijan.

East Azarbaijan province is also one of the richest regions of Iran in natural minerals, with 180 mines in 1997, of which 121 units are currently in operation, and the rest are being planned.

East Azarbaijan also has some of Iran's best technical universities. The full list of major institutions are:

1. Sahand University of Technology
2. Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
3. Tabriz University of Tarbiat Moallem
4. University of Tabriz (website)
5. Islamic Azad University of Bonab
6. Islamic Azad University of Tabriz
7. Islamic Azad University of Shabestar
8. Islamic Azad University of Maragheh
9. Islamic Azad University of Miyaneh
10. Tabriz Islamic Arts University

External links

• Official website of East Azarbaijan Governorship
• Cultural Heritage Organization of East Azarbaijan

^[1]: According to the information released by the office of the provincial governor, linked above.