Maragheh

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Marāghé or Marāgha (Persian: مراغه‎ ) is a city in Northern Iran on the bank of the river Safi Chay. It is located at 37°23′N, 46°16′E, 130 km from Tabriz and has a population of 300,000.^{[citation needed]}

Maragheh is an ancient city situated in a narrow valley running nearly north and south at the eastern extremity of a well-cultivated plain opening towards Lake Urmia, which lies 30 km to the west. The town is encompassed by a high wall ruined in many places, and has four gates. Two stone bridges in good condition, said to have been constructed during the reign of Hulaku Khan (1217-1265),who made Maragheh the capital of the Ilkhanate Empire. The place is surrounded by extensive vineyards and orchards, all well watered by canals led from the river, and producing great quantities of fruit. The hills west of the town consist of horizontal strata of sandstone covered with irregular pieces of basalt.

On a hill west of the town are the remains of a famous observatory called Rasad-e Khan, constructed under the direction of Hulaku Khan. The building, which no doubt served as a citadel as well, enclosed a space of 340 by 135 meters, and the foundations of the walls were 13 to 2 meters in thickness.

The marble, which is known throughout Iran as Maragha marble, is a travertine obtained at the village of Dash Kesen near Azar-Shar about 50 km north-west from Maragheh. It is deposited from water, which bubbles up from a number of springs in the form of horizontal layers, which at first are thin crusts and can easily be broken, but gradually solidify and harden into blocks with a thickness of about 20 cm. It is a singularly beautiful substance, being of pink, greenish, or milk-white color, streaked with reddish copper-colored veins. It is exported and sold worldwide under such names as Azarshar Red or Yellow.