Ardabil provice
Ardabil is one of the provinces of Iran's wide extensive ,which is located in north west of Iran with more than 17880km^2 area and allocated itself approximately 1.09% of total area of Iran. The historic &religious city of Ardabil is its capital. According to the latest national distribution Ardabil province includes 9 townships, 25 wards, 21 cities and 21 rural districts. At 1993 this province separated from eastern Azarbaijan province and became independent.
Ardabil province with 282.5km common border neighbor by Parsabad ,Aslanduz,Bilesuar,Germi,Namin cities is neighbor with Republic of Azarbaijan and also Aslanduz,Muogan's Bilesuar have land road relationship with Republic of Azarbaijan.
Zanjan province is southern neighbor of Ardabil province which has 62.5km common border with khalkhal.
Eastern natural borders of Ardabil province are Talysh chain of mountains which is located between Ardabil and Gyilan provinces, are beautiful also difficult Heyran and Asalem turnings.
Ardabil province is neighbor with Gylan province by 175km common border with Ardabil, Givi and Khalkhal cities.
Ardabil province from aspect of geographical coordination is located in 45, 37 and 42, 48 northern circle according to GMT and northern, southern end of 55,48and 3, 47 western and eastern end meridians and surrounded by Bagro and Sabalan chain mountains.
Talysh or Bagro Mountains are extension of Alborz chain of mountains which separate Ardabil province from Gylan province and is extended from khorasan to Gafgaz. These chain mountains have approximately 40 km. distance from Ardabil and are located at the east of Ardabil.
Sabalan Mountain has 4820 meters height from sea surface and located in the west of Ardabil by it is distance as much as it's eastern chain of mountains namely 40 km.
Volcanic Sabalan Mountain has been respected, since old years ago among Ardabil people and like a holey place, as an open wing eagle is supervising Ardabil city.
Since old years ago, Ardabil people were counting Sabalan Mountain as a holey and ascribe the existence of grave of one of profits to it. Approximately 3000 km height of Ardabil from sea surface and existence of above mountains has given a cold and temperate climate to Ardabil.
Warmth of the Ardabil's weather in the warmest season of the year rarely goes far from 30 degrees. But Mogan which is located in and of northern part of Ardabil province, with less level of height from sea surface, has warm and damp climate.
General geography of Ardabil city is affected by Sabalan, Talysh and Bozquosh mountains. Most of Ardabil's area has more than 3000 meters height from sea surface. Sabalan Mountain with 4820 meters height is located in west north of this city and has a big role in equinox of its climate.
Ardabil city is one of the coldest areas of Iran and has cold weather between 5 to 8 months of year. Very cold winter and temperate summers are properties of Ardabil's climate.
Popularity of Ardabil, according to census in 2006 was 1228000 which 48.7% burgess and 51.1% rural and 2.2% were wandering tribes.
Old historians have introduced Ardabil as "Artavil" have supposed this name as a Avestian word which is made up of Arta (means holy) and Vil (means city) that means holy city.
Most of Islamic historians refer foundation of Ardabil city to Firouz, Sasanians dynasty king (457-489 A.D).
Ardabil had political and military importance in Hakhamaneshian dynasty era and was central station of Iranian camp for protection and maintenance of northern borders of Iran.
Referring to the Avesta citation, Zoroaster (Iranian prophet) borne beside to "Daeita" river which is known as Aras river now .He went to "Badan pirouz"(Ardabil now) for spreading his religion.
A war occurred and zoroasterians reached all of villages and around small towns.
Life time and invitation of the ancient Iranian prophet was approximately at10 centuries BC or 30 centuries before this date. According to this, 30 centuries is passing from Ardabil's foundation and its history refers to first period of immigration of Arias to Iran. According to historians, beginning of that immigration has been from 3000 years to 14th century B.C.
If "urartou"s were the first Arian peoples who had residence in this area and had influence on foundation of Ardabil, therefore Ardabil's history is much older than by manifestation of Zoroaster in Ardabil .At the time of Arabs attack to Iran (22A.H.), Ardabil was the biggest city of Azerbaijan which reached to Islam's troops
Between 267to 317A.H, this city was capital of "Bani Saj" dynasty's government that had transferred the governing from Marage to Ardabil. Till Mongolian king attack ,Ardabil was the capital of Azerbaijan's government .Esmaeil ,one of the Safavian dynasty kings, revolted from Ardabil for establishing of unique government in Iran and in 906A.H. put Tabriz as capital of Iran .
In Safavian era, Ardabil was in the highest level of politics and commerce ranking in compare with other cities in Iran. This city was on the way of business road of Iran and Europe and come silk and merchandise from Gylan were exporting to Europe by Ardabil.
Ardabil province with so many natural and historical attractions is one of the main tourism axes in Iran. Heiran turning's green landscapes, Sabalan's full of snow foot, spas natural lakes, ponds, nice and fresh weather and so many other historic important buildings are some of Ardabil's tourism attractions.
One of the most significant tourism attractions of Ardabil province is hot mineral waters which are located in Sarein city. There are 8 spas in this city and also there are 14 other spas in other cities of Ardabil such as Nir ,Khalkhal and Meshgin city.
Sabalan mountain in east south of Meshgin city and is located in 25km distance from that city. This mountain has various kinds of plants that more than 3000 kinds of plants have been recognized in it. This mountain is one of the off volcanic mountains of Iran and height of its highest mountain is 4800 meters from sea surface.
Shikh Safi Addin Ardabili's mausoleum is one of ten important ancient works of Iran. The building is built in 765A.H. and had been respected by passage of time with Safavian kings. Recent building of mausoleum includes sets of king's and princes graves and some other other buildings such as harems, porcelain hall, masque and etc. Since 2007 efforts to registering this building in the Unesco international works list has been started.
Shorabil Lake is located in 2km far from south part of Ardabil and its area is about 120 hectares. The water of this lake is salty and is not useable for agricultural purposes, but some kinds of fish is nurturing there now. Shorabil in Talyshian language means salty lake.
Around jungles of Astara to Ardabil road namely Heyran turning and Fandoglu jungles and Mesha Suoei jungles and Davoud's stone statue around Khalkhal city are some of jungles of Ardabil province.
Nour is a lake which is located in 40 km. far from eastern part of ardabil city. Nour lake's fish are hunted every year before winter. Due to freezing of the water of this lake in the winter fish can not be survived and so after winter, small fish are realest in the Nour.
By using of water of this lake, some fish nurturing pools are established around Ardabil.
Three rich soil flat lands in Ardabil province are: Mogan with 90000 hectare in northern part of province, Ardabil with 90000 hectare area in central part of province and Meshkin city with 53700 hectare areas which is located in the western part of Ardabil province. Generally according to above cited words, we can say that, Ardabil province is one of the most popular and important cities of Iran in terms of nature, history, society and culture.
Particular geological and topographical position of this area is caused formation of natural attractions and very beautiful landscapes and has added to natural richness of this area. There are so many natural and historical works are distributed in most of Ardabil province's towns. Glorious Mountain of Sabalan and with volcanic mountain and thermal springs and small but uncountable natural lakes are the most important natural attractions of Ardabil. Sabalan's Gorgor spring, Khalkhal's Nav turning that is connecting from inside of Talysh jungles to Rasht and Astara city's road and Heyran turning which is one of the most beautiful and incomparable landscapes of Iran are located in this province. Pleasant and out of industrial world life of Shahsavan and other tribes in Sabalan's foot is really surprising every visitor .Ardabil province is also has so many historic buildings and worth seeing places that some of them like Sheikh Safi Addine Ardabili's mausoleum include several historical building from different eras that by going to one place it is possible to visit several historic and old works. Ancient hills, old bathe and large buildings and cemeteries of famous men and holey and old mausoleums are other worth seeing places of Ardabil that together with handcrafts and social and cultural attractions of this area have provided less equal attractions.
