El Goli (, ), also called Shah Goli ( fa, شاه گلی, Šāh Goli, az, شاه گؤلۆ, script=Arab, italic=no, Şah Gölü) is a large historic park (or garden) in the south east region of
Tabriz
Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
,
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. One of its main features is its large artificial lake, measuring 210 meters/700 ft square.
History and characteristics
Tradition dates the construction of the park to the late 18th century. However, it may have been built earlier as well; some sources suggest as far back as the 14th century. In the
Qajar
Qajar Iran (), also referred to as Qajar Persia, the Qajar Empire, '. Sublime State of Persia, officially the Sublime State of Iran ( fa, دولت علیّه ایران ') and also known then as the Guarded Domains of Iran ( fa, ممالک م ...
period the park was restored and high terraces were added.
The northern side of the lake was built up, which, according to
Penelope Hobhouse
Penelope Hobhouse MBE (born 20 November 1929), née Chichester-Clark, is a British garden writer, designer, lecturer and television presenter.
Early life
Born into an Anglo-Irish family in Moyola Park, Castledawson, she is the daughter of James ...
, makes the lake "appear to float over the valley". A causeway leads out to a pavilion, today the site of a restaurant. The pavilion was once crowned with a dome. From the west hillside, a spring feeds the lake, a cascade descending in five terraces. The sight is flanked by poplar trees and
willow
Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist s ...
s.
Etymology
The park was first named Shah Goli (Shah Gölü), the "Royal Lake" or the "Royal Pond". After the
Islamic Revolution
The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dyna ...
of 1979, the park and the surrounding were renamed as El Gölü, "lake of the people".
Photo gallery
File:ائل گولی 1.jpg, El Gölü
File:Shah Goli and Pars hotel.JPG, El Gölü lake and Hotel Pars in top of the hills.
File:El goli.jpg, El Gölü lake from hills.
File:Shah-Goli.Tabriz.jpg, Night view of El Gölü.
File:ائل گولی 2.jpg, El Gölü
File:ائل گولی 3.jpg, El Gölü
See also
*
Khaqani Park
Khaqani Park ( fa, بوستان خاقانی) or ''Boostan Khaqani'' is a small park in Tabriz, located between the Azerbaijan Museum and the Blue mosque. The park is named after the 12th century Persian Poet Khaqani Shirvani, who died in Tabriz ...
*
Golestan Park
Golestan Park is a historical park in Tabriz, Iran. The park is located near to Qonqa Square in city center. The place, which was originally used as a public cemetery, was changed to a city park during the second Pahlavi era.
A marble clock tow ...
References
Sources
*
External links
City of Tabriz on Iran Chamber Society (www.iranchamber.com)Editorial Board, East Azarbaijan Geography, Iranian Ministry of Education, 2000(High School Text Book in Persian)
* https://web.archive.org/web/20070216155119/http://www.tabrizcity.org/
Tishineh
Parks in Tabriz
Architecture in Iran
Buildings and structures in Tabriz
Persian gardens in Iran
National works of Iran
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