Eşfahān Province

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Eşfahān Province استان اصفهان
Location

Statistics
Capital: • Coordinates:	Isfahan • 32.6577° N 51.6692° E
Area :	107,029 km²
Population(2005): • Density :	4,454,595 • 41.6/km²
Sub-provinces (Shahrestan):	21
Time zone:	UTC+3:30
Main language(s):	Persian

Eşfahān province (Persian: استان اصفهان; also transliterated as Isfahan, Esfahan, Espahan, Sepahan or Isphahan) is one of the 28 provinces of Iran. It is located in the center of the country. Its capital is the city of Eşfahān.

1 Geography
2 History and culture
3 Eşfahān province today
4 Higher education and research
5 Major cities
6 External links
7 See also

[edit] Geography

The province of Eşfahān covers an area of approximately 107,027 square km and is situated in the center of Iran. To its north, stand the Markazi (Central) Province and the provinces of Qom and Semnan. In the south, it is within the limits of the provinces of Fars, Kohkiluyeh and Booyer Ahmad. Eastwards, it is in the neighborhood of the provinces of Khorasan and Yazd. Whereas, in the west it has common borders with the provinces of Lurestan and Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiyari.

A Seljuk era minaret. Eşfahān province has the oldest mosque of Iran in Nain.

Eşfahān province has enjoyed the benefit of being capital of Persia for 200 years during the 17th and 18th centuries.

The city of Eşfahān is the provincial capital; and the counties of this province are as follows: Aran, Bidgol, Ardestan, Isfahan, Barkhovar and Meymeh, Khomeini Shahr, Khansar, Semirom, Shahr-e-Hana, Fereydan, Fereydunshahr, Falavarjan, Kashan, Golpayegan, Khomeini-shahr, Lanjan, Mobarakeh, Nain, Najaf Abad, Dehaghan, Shahreza, Anarak and Natanz; 18 townships, 38 counties, 67 cities, and 2470 villages in all. According to the census in the year 2000, the population of the province was 3,923,255 of which approximately 74.3 percent were urban residents and 25.7 percent resided in the rural areas. The literacy rate was 87 percent.

The province experiences a moderate and dry climate on the whole, ranging between 40.6°C and 10.6°C on a cold day in the winter season. The average annual temperature has been recorded as 16.7°C and the annual rainfall on an average has been reported as 116.9 mm. The city of Eşfahān however experiences an excellent climate, with four distinct seasons.

[edit] History and culture

Kashan is another cultural jewel of the province. Seen here is the Agha Bozorg Mosque.

Historians have recorded initially as a defense and military base. The security and protection of the gradually increasing castles and fortifications, thereby, would provide the protection of residents nearby, therefore leading to the growth of large settlements nearby. These historical castles were Atashgah, Sarooyieh, Tabarok, Kohan Dej, and Gard Dej to name a few. The oldest of these is Ghal'eh Sefeed and the grounds at Tamijan from prehistoric times. The historic village of Abyaneh, a nationwide attraction, also has Sassanid ruins and fire temples among other historical relics.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Eşfahān province enjoyed high standards of prosperity as it became the capital of Safavid Persia. While the city of Eşfahān was their seat of monarchy, Kashan was their place of vacation and leisure.

Eşfahān province encompasses various sects today. The majority of the people in the province are Persian speakers, but Bakhtiaris, Armenians and Hebrews also reside in the province. The official language of the province is Persian, though the minorities abide by their own language such as Hebrew or Luri. Eşfahān province is noted for its reputed personalities such as writers, poets and other imminent figures who have been born and brought up or have lived in this territory.

[edit] Eşfahān province today

Eşfahān province has many centers of attraction aside from the city of Eşfahān itself. Kashan for example is a well worth destination for many tourists, as are Nain, where Iran's oldest mosque still stands, and Qamsar where roseflower is naturally made every year.

Eşfahān province is an industrial center of Iran. Rapid development of the industrial sector in this province has made it one of the greatest, if not the greatest industrial center in the country, close to surpassing Tehran.

A medieval pigeon tower, located near the campus of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. The province contains over 1000 registered sites of historical significance, contributing to a large influx of annual tourists.

The most important industries of Isfahan are in the areas of: steel factory and mill refineries, defensive industries, medical manufacturing, Polyacryl factories, textile and weaving.