Khoy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Khoy (خوی in Persian, Xoy/خوی in Azerbaijani and Xoy in Kurdish), also spelt Khoi or Khvoy, is a city in West Azarbaijan, Iran. It is located between Maku and Urmia. The region's economy is based around farming, particularly the production of fruit, grain and timber. As of 2004, the city had a population of approximately 176,300. [1]

Control of Khoy has gone back and forth between several nations throughout history, having previously been attacked by Russia in 1827 and Turkey in 1911. During World War II, the city was under the control of the Soviet Union.

The city's population is mostly Azeri and Kurd. Some (e.g. Ahmad Kasravi) feel that the name of Khoy is an indication that more Kurds once lived there, since Khoy is a Kurdish word meaning salt [2]. Another explanation for the name originates from the shape of this city, because it is in the shape of a hole and it is next to "Avrin" mountain.^{[citation needed]}