Gorgan

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For the place in Afghanistan, see Gorgan, Afghanistan.
Gorgan
گرگان
Gorgan (Iran)
Gorgan
Gorgan
Coordinates: 36°50′N 54°29′E / 36.833, 54.483
Government
 - Governor of Gorgan (the city & the county), (2008) Jaafar Gorzin
Area
 - Total 1,700 km² (656 sq mi)
Population (2005)
 - Total 241,177
 - Density 141.47/km² (367.65/sq mi)
Time zone IRST (UTC+3:30)

Gorgan (Persian: گرگان, Caspian: Vergen) is the capital of the Golestan Province, Iran. It is approximately 400 km from Tehran. It had an estimated population of 241,177 in 2005.[1] Some 150km east of Gorgan is the Golestan National Park. The city has a regional airport and several universities. Gorgan International Airport was opened in September 2005.

Contents

[edit] Etymology

The city was named Hyrcania, Hyrcani or Hyrcana in ancient Greek records, which comes from Pahlavi Varkâna -- "Land of the Wolfs". Although modern Gorgan is only a city and county (sharing the same name), ancient Hyrcania was the name of a greater region on the southern shores of the Caspian Sea (encompassing all of the present day Golestan province, as well as some eastern parts of the Mazandaran province, and some southern parts of the present day Republic of Turkmenistan). In modern times and until 1937 the city used to be known as Astarabad.

[edit] Geography and climate

Farms, East of Gorgan
Farms, East of Gorgan

The wide Dasht-e-Gorgan (the Plains of Gorgan) are located north of the city of Gorgan and is geographically bounded by 37°00' - 37°30' north latitude and 54°00' - 54°30' east longitude and covers an area of about 1,700 square kilometres.

In general, Golestan has a moderate and humid climate known as "the moderate Caspian climate." The effective factors behind such a climate are: Alborz mountain range, direction of the mountains, height of the area, neighborhood to the sea, vegetation surface, local winds, altitude and weather fronts. As a result of the above factors, three different climates exist in the region: plain moderate, mountainous, and semi-arid. Gorgan valley has a semi-arid climate. The average annual temperature is 18.2 degrees Celsius and the annual rainfall is 556 mm.

[edit] History

Main article: Hyrcania

The name "Hyrcania" is the ancient Greek record of the local name in Old Persian name Varkâna. At the time of Sasanids Gorgan appeared as the name of a city, province capital, and a province[1].

Hyrcania became part of the persian empire during the reign of Cyrus the Great (559-530 BC) - the first emperor the first persian empire dynasty - or Cambyses (530-522 BC). It was conquered by Arabs in 8th century and by Mongols in 13th century.

[edit] Culture

[edit] Handicrafts

Gorgan (and in general, Golestan province), has a world famous carpet and rug industry, made by Turkmans. The patterns of these carpets are derived from the ancient Persian city of Boxârâ (Bukhara)which is now located in the Central Asian Republic of Tajikestan. Jajim carpets are also crafted in this province.

[edit] Notables from Gorgan

[edit] Contemporary figures

  • Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Musician.
  • Hojjatollah Shakiba, Artist (painter).
  • Ramezan Ali Rashidi or Dr. Ali Rashidi, (b. 1935) Economist, University Professor.
  • Hossein Ali Heravi, (1918-1993), Hafezologist, Writer.
  • Mahmood Akhavan-Mahdavi, Expert on Repairing Persian Manuscripts; Writer & Researcher on Gorgan Contemperary History,
  • Mohammad Mohammadi or Dr. Mohammad Mohammadi Gorgani, Human Rights Activist, Former Majles MP from Gorgan, University Professor.
  • Mohammad Hossein Kabir or Hossein Kabir, (b. 1957) Human Rights, Political & Social Activist, Orator, Journalist, High School Teacher.
  • Maryam Zandi, Photographer.
  • Ali Reza Sookhtehsaraey, World Wrestling Champion.
  • Abdonnasser Mohaimeni, (b. 1957) Journalist, Translator & Teacher of English Language.
  • Rahmatollah Rajaee, writer, researcher and teacher of culture & history.
  • Assadollah Maatoofi, (b. 1957) writer, researcher and teacher of culture & history.

[edit] Historical figures

[edit] Attractions

[edit] Historical Attractions

  • Gorgân's Defense Wall (155 km long and 6 to 10 m wide) is one of the most outstanding and gigantic architectural monuments in Dashte Gorgan and Gonbad Steppes (Gorgan Plain) history. This wall, which is the largest defensive wall in the world after the Great Wall of China [2], starts from the Caspian coast, circles north of Gonbade Kavous, continues towards the northwest, and vanishes behind the Pishkamar Mountains. A logistical archaeological survey was conducted regarding the wall in 1999 due to problems in development projects, especially during construction of the Golestan Dam, which irrigates all the areas covered by the wall. At the point of the connection of the wall and the drainage canal from the dam, architects discovered the remains of the above wall. At parts, this wall is 6 m wide and in other parts the width is 10 m, which proves that the thickness of the wall differs in various regions, according to the natural features and soil configuration. Castles have been built at different distances. The longest distance between castles is 50 km and the shortest is 10 km.The 40 identified castles vary in dimension and shape but the majority are square fortresses. Due to many difficulties in development and agricultural projects, archaeologists have been assigned to mark the boundary of the historical find by laying cement blocks. The Gorgan Wall has been named Alexander Dam, Anushirvân Dam, Firuz Dam and Qazal Al'an in various historical texts. Dr. Kiani who led the archaeological team in 1971 believed that the wall was built during the Parthian dynasty simultaneously with the construction of the Great Wall of China and it was restored during the Sassanid era (3-7th c. A.D.)[citation needed]. In 2005 a team excavated samples of charcoal from the many brick kilns along the wall, and samples from the Gorgan Wall and the smaller Wall of Tammishe; OSL and radiocarbon dating indicated a date for both walls in the late 5th or 6th century CE.[3]
  • Gorgan has many traditional buildings, with tiled sloping roofs and wooden balconies such as Emarat-e-Agha Mohammad Khani and the Friday Mosque which dates back to the Seljuk era.

[edit] Natural Attractions

  • Ashooradeh Island
  • Deraznou mountain top
  • Golestan National Park
  • Nahar-Khoran forests
  • Ziarat hot spring
  • Tooskestan
  • Jahan-Nama mountain top area

[edit] Colleges and universities

[edit] Governors General (Ostandars) of the Golestan Province

  • Yahya Mahmoodzadeh is the current, (April 2008), governor general of Golestan province. He has been in office since April 2007 to present, i.e. April 2008.

[edit] Previous governors general

Other governors general of the province prior to Mr Y. Mahmoodzadeh, and since the foundation of the province (Feb. 1998), and in the order of taking office, have been as follows:

  • 1- Seyyed Ebrahim Derazgissoo.
  • 2- Ali Asghar Ahmadi.
  • 3- Hadi Pazhoohesh-Jahromi (Acting Governor General for 5 months).
  • 4- Mohammad Hashem Mohaymeni (or Mohaimeni).
  • 5- Ali Mohammad Shaeri.
  • 6- Reza Anjom-Shoaa (Acting Governor General for 4 months).

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bivar, A.D.H. "Gorgan" Encyclopaedia Iranica [www.iranica.com online]
  2. ^ The Enigma of the Red Snake. Hamid Omrani Rekavandi (ICHTO), Eberhard Sauer (University of Edinburgh), Tony Wilkinson (University of Durham) and Jebrael Nokandeh (ICHTO & University of Berlin). Current Archaeology 2008. http://www.archaeology.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1555&Itemid=27
  3. ^ The Enigma of the Red Snake. Hamid Omrani Rekavandi (ICHTO), Eberhard Sauer (University of Edinburgh), Tony Wilkinson (University of Durham) and Jebrael Nokandeh (ICHTO & University of Berlin). Current Archaeology 2008. http://www.archaeology.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1555&Itemid=27

[edit] External links


Coordinates: 36°50′N, 54°29′E