East Azerbaijan Province ( fa, استان آذربایجان شرقی ''Āzarbāijān-e Sharqi''; az-Arab, شرقی آذربایجان اوستانی) is one of the 31
provinces of Iran
Iran is subdivided into thirty-one provinces ( fa, استان ''ostân''), each governed from a local centre, usually the largest local city, which is called the capital (Persian: , '' markaz'') of that province. The provincial authority is ...
. It is located in
Iranian Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan ( fa, آذربایجان, ''Āzarbāijān'' ; az-Arab, آذربایجان, ''Āzerbāyjān'' ), also known as Iranian Azerbaijan, is a historical region in northwestern Iran that borders Iraq, Turkey, the Nakhchivan ...
, bordering
Armenia
Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''O ...
,
Republic of Azerbaijan,
Ardabil Province,
West Azerbaijan Province, and
Zanjan Province. The capital of East Azerbaijan is
Tabriz
Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quru River valley in Iran's historic Azerbaijan region between long ridges of vo ...
. East Azerbaijan Province is in
Regions 3 of Iran, with its secretariat located in its capital city,
Tabriz
Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quru River valley in Iran's historic Azerbaijan region between long ridges of vo ...
.
Geography
The province covers an area of approximately 47,830 km², it has a population of around four million people. The province has common borders with the Republic of Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Autonomous Nakhchivan in the north,
West Azerbaijan in the west,
Zanjan in the south, and
Ardabil
Ardabil (, fa, اردبیل, Ardabīl or ''Ardebīl'') is a city in northwestern Iran, and the capital of Ardabil Province. As of the 2022 census, Ardabil's population was 588,000. The dominant majority in the city are ethnic Iranian Azerbaija ...
in the east. A fine network of roads and railways connects East Azerbaijan to other parts of
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 ...
and neighboring countries.
The highest point in East Azerbaijan is the volcanic peak of Sahand Mountain at of elevation, lying south of
Tabriz
Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quru River valley in Iran's historic Azerbaijan region between long ridges of vo ...
, whereas the lower-lying areas are around Garmadooz (Ahar). The hills and mountains of the province are divided into three ranges: the
Qara Daq Mountains, the Sahand and Bozqoosh Mountains, and the Qaflan Kooh Mountains.
The climate of East Azerbaijan is affected by Mediterranean Continental as well as the cold semi-arid climate. Gentle breezes off the
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia; east of the Caucasus, west of the broad steppe of Central A ...
have some influence on the climate of the low-lying areas. Temperatures run up to 8.9 °C in Tabriz, and 20 °C in Maraqeh, in the winter dropping to −10–−15 °C at least (depending on how cold the overall year is). The ideal seasons to visit this province are in the spring and summer months.
History
East Azerbaijan is one of the most archaic territories in
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 ...
. During the reign of
Alexander of Macedon in Iran (331 BCE), a warrior known as Attorpat led a revolt in this area, then a territory of the
Medes
The Medes ( Old Persian: ; Akkadian: , ; Ancient Greek: ; Latin: ) were an ancient Iranian people who spoke the Median language and who inhabited an area known as Media between western and northern Iran. Around the 11th century BC, ...
, and thereafter it was called ''Attorpatkan''. Since then this vicinity has been known as ''Azarabadegan'', ''Azarbadgan'' and ''Azarbayjan''.
Islamic researchers proclaim that the birth of the prophet
Zoroaster
Zoroaster,; fa, زرتشت, Zartosht, label= Modern Persian; ku, زەردەشت, Zerdeşt also known as Zarathustra,, . Also known as Zarathushtra Spitama, or Ashu Zarathushtra is regarded as the spiritual founder of Zoroastrianism. He is ...
was in this area, in the vicinity of Lake Orumieh (''Chichesht''), Konzak City. Needless to say, this province was subject to numerous political and economical upheavals, attracting the interest of foreigners. The Russians in particular have tried to exert a lasting influence in the region over the past 300 years, occupying the area on numerous occasions. The
constitutionalist movement of Iran began here in the late 19th century.
Ethnic tensions in Azerbaijan can
legally
Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vari ...
trace their origins back to the colonialist policies of
Imperial Russia
The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. The ...
and later the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
. In a cable sent on 6 July 1945 by the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, – TsK KPSS was the executive leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, acting between sessions of Congress. According to party statutes, the committee direct ...
, the local Soviet commander in Russian (northern) held Azerbaijan was instructed as such:
In 1945, the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
helped set up the
Azerbaijan People's Government
The Azerbaijan People's Government ( az, آذربایجان میللی حکومتی - Azərbaycan Milli Hökuməti; fa, حکومت خودمختار آذربایجان) was a short-lived unrecognized secessionist state in northern Iran from Nov ...
in what is now East Azerbaijan.
Administrative divisions
At the 1986 census there were twelve counties in East Azerbaijan Province. By the 1996 census two additional counties had been formed,
Jolfa from part of
Marand, and
Malekan
Malekan (Romanized as Malekān; formerly, Malik Kandi (ترکی آذربایجانی: مَلِك كَندی), also Romanized as Malek Kandī and Malikkand) is a city in the Central District of Malekan County, East Azerbaijan province, Iran ...
from part of
Bonab
Bonab ( az, Binab, fa, بناب; also Romanized as Bonāb and Benāb; also known as Bināb, Bunab, Binov, and Binev) is a city and capital of Bonab County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Bonab is 120 km south of Tabriz (the capital of East Az ...
. Between 1996 and 2002, five new counties were formed:
Ajabshir
Ajabshir ( fa, Ajabŝir; also Romanized as ‘Ajab Shīr; also known as Ajabshahr) is a city & capital of Ajab Shir County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is ...
,
Azarshahr
Azarshahr ( fa, آذرشهر; also Romanized as Āz̄arshahr, Âzaršahr, Azərşəhr, or Āz̄ar Shahr; also known as Tufarqan (Persian: توفارقان), also Romanized as Dehkhvāreqān) is a city and capital of Azarshahr County, East Azerb ...
,
Charoimaq,
Osku, and
Varzaqan. In 2010
Kalibar was split in half with the northern part becoming
Khoda Afarin, while the southern part kept the name Kalibar.
Counties at the 1986 census
Counties as of 2012
Osku County
Osku County ( fa, شهرستان اسکو) is located in East Azerbaijan province, East Azerbaijan province, Iran. The capital of the county is Osku. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 84,061, in 23,613 households. Retrieved 3 Novemb ...
, -
Malekan County
, -
Azarshahr County
Azarshahr County ( fa, شهرستان آذرشهر) is located in East Azerbaijan province, East Azerbaijan province, Iran. The capital of the county is Azarshahr. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 99,286, in 26,857 households. Retr ...
, -
Culture
From a cultural point of view, the most outstanding features are the language,
Azerbaijani
Azerbaijani may refer to:
* Something of, or related to Azerbaijan
* Azerbaijanis
* Azerbaijani language
See also
* Azerbaijan (disambiguation)
* Azeri (disambiguation)
* Azerbaijani cuisine
* Culture of Azerbaijan
The culture of Azerbaijan ...
, and folklore of this region. The language of Azerbaijan is originally "a branch of the Iranian languages known as Azari" (''see
Ancient Azari language''). However, the modern Azeri language is a Turkic language very closely related to the language of
Republic of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Apart from this, the province also boasts numerous learned scholars, gnostics, several national poets such as ''Mowlana Baba Mazeed'', ''Khajeh Abdol Raheem Aj Abadi'', ''Sheikh Hassan Bolqari'', and ''Abdolqader Nakhjavani'', to name a few, and the contemporary poet ''Ostad Mohammad Hossein Shahriyar''. The current
leader
Leadership, both as a research area and as a practical skill, encompasses the ability of an individual, group or organization to "lead", influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. The word "leadership" often gets v ...
of Iran,
Ali Khamenei
Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei ( fa, سید علی حسینی خامنهای, ; born 19 April 1939) is a Twelver Shia '' marja and the second and current Supreme Leader of Iran, in office since 1989. He was previously the third presiden ...
, also originally comes from this region.
Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization has registered 936 sites of historical significance in the province. Some are contemporary, and some are from the antiquity of ancient Persia. "
Zahak
Zahhāk or Zahāk () ( fa, ضحّاک), also known as Zahhak the Snake Shoulder ( fa, ضحاک ماردوش, Zahhāk-e Mārdoush), is an evil figure in Persian mythology, evident in ancient Persian folklore as Azhi Dahāka ( fa, اژی دهاک) ...
Citadel", for example, is the name of an ancient ruin in East Azerbaijan, which according to various experts, was inhabited from the second millennium BC until the Timurid era. First excavated in the 1800s by British archeologists,
Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization has been studying the structure in 6 phase
East Azerbaijan enjoys a rich compendium of Azeri traditions. Many local dances and folk songs continue to survive among the various peoples of the province. As a longstanding province of
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 ...
, Azerbaijan is mentioned favorably on many occasions in
Persian literature
Persian literature ( fa, ادبیات فارسی, Adabiyâte fârsi, ) comprises oral compositions and written texts in the Persian language and is one of the world's oldest literatures. It spans over two-and-a-half millennia. Its sources h ...
by
Iran's greatest authors and poets.
Notable people
*
Qatran Tabrizi
Qatran Tabrizi ( fa, قطران تبریزی; 1009–1014 – after 1088) was a Persian writer, who is considered to have been one of the leading poets in 11th-century Iran. A native of the northwestern region of Azarbaijan, he spent all of his l ...
, poet
*
Ahmad Kasravi, historian
*
Samad Behrangi
*
Sattar Khan
Sattar Khan ( fa, ستارخان, , October 20, 1866 – November 17, 1914), honorarily titled Sardār-e Melli ( fa, سردار ملی meaning ''National Commander'') was a pivotal figure in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution and is considere ...
, revolutionary leader
*
Bagher Khan, revolutionary leader
*
Gayk Bzhishkyan
Hayk Bzhishkian ( hy, Հայկ Բժշկյան, Persian هایک پزشکیان, Russian: Гайк Бжишкян, also known as Guy Dmitrievich Guy, Gai Dmitrievich Gai (Гай Дмитриевич Гай), Gaya Gai (Гая Гай), or Bzhishkyan ...
*
Kazem Sadegh-Zadeh
*
Parvin E'tesami
Parvin E'tesami (1907 – April 5, 1941) also known as Rakhshandeh Etesami ( fa, رخشنده اعتصامی), and Parvin Etesami ( fa, پروین اعتصامی), was an Iranian 20th-century Persian poet.
Life
Parvin E'tesami was born in 1907 i ...
, poet
*
Ali Daei, Iranian soccer player
*
Karim Bagheri, soccer star
*
Iraj Mirza
Prince Iraj Mirza ( fa, ایرج میرزا, literally ''Prince Iraj''; October 1874 – 14 March 1926) (titled Jalāl-ol-Mamālek, fa, جلالالممالک), son of prince Gholam-Hossein Mirza, was a famous Iranian poet. He was a modern p ...
, poet and politician
*
Maqsud Ali Tabrizi Maqsud Ali Tabrizi was a 17th-century Iranian physician in Mughal India.
As indicated by his nisba, he was from Tabriz. He was a translator who worked at the request of the Mughal emperor Jahangir (who ruled 1605-1627 CE).
He translated Arabic ...
*
Ivan Galamian
Ivan Alexander Galamian ( hy, Իվան Ղալամեան; April 14, 1981) was an Armenian-American violin teacher of the twentieth century who was the violin teacher of many seminal violin players including Itzhak Perlman.
Biography
Galamian w ...
*
Hassan Roshdieh
Haji Mirza Hassan Tabrizi (میرزا حسن تبریزی; July 4, 1851, Tabriz – December 12, 1944, Qom), famously known as Hassan Roshdieh (حسن رشدیه), was an Iranian cleric, teacher, politician, and journalist. He introduced some mode ...
*
Shams Tabrizi, mystic
*
Vartan Gregorian
Vartan Gregorian; fa, وارتان گرگوریان (April 8, 1934 – April 15, 2021) was an Armenian-American academic, educator, and historian. He served as president of the Carnegie Corporation from 1997 to 2021.
An Armenian born in I ...
, President of
Carnegie Corporation
*
Ali Salimi
Ali Salimi ( fa, علي سليمي, az, Əli Səlimi; 1922 in Baku – 22 April 1997 in Tabriz) was an Iranian Azerbaijanis, Iranian Azerbaijani musician, composer and Tar (lute), tar player. He had been based in Tehran for the last few decades ...
*
Ali Soheili,
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...
of
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 ...
*
Ebrahim Hakimi
Ebrahim Hakimi ( fa, ابراهیم حکیمی; 1869 – 19 October 1959) was an Iranian statesman who served as Prime Minister of Iran on three occasions.
Early life and education
Born in Tabriz in 1869, Ḥakimi was part of "an old and promine ...
,
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...
of
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 ...
*
Mahmud Jam
Mahmoud Modir al-Molk Djam ( fa, محمود جم; 1880 – 10 August 1969) was a prime minister of Iran from 1935 to 1939.
Early life
Djam was born in Tabriz in around 1880. Career
Djam learned French from a Frenchman in Tabriz and began to wor ...
,
Prime Minister
A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...
of
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 ...
*
Mohammad Hossein Shahriar
*
Asadi Tusi is buried here
East Azerbaijan today
East Azerbaijan province is an industrial centre of
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 ...
. East Azerbaijan province has over 5000 manufacturing units (6% percent of national total). The value of product from these units in 1997 was US$374 million (373 billion rials = 4.07% of the national total). Total investments were valued at US$2.7 billion (2.4513 trillion rials) in 1997.
[According to the information released by the office of the provincial governor.]
Some of the major industries in East Azerbaijan are glass industries, paper manufacturing, steel, copper and nepheline syenite, oil refinery, petrochemical processing facilities, chemical products, pharmaceutical processing, foundries, vehicle and auto-parts industries, industrial machines, agricultural machines, food industries, leather, and shoe industries.
East Azerbaijan has an excellent position in the handicraft industry of Iran, which has a large share in the exports of the province. Tabriz carpets are widely known around the world and in international markets for their vibrant designs and colors. At present there are about 66,000 carpet production units in the province, employing some 200,000 people. The annual production of these carpets is roughly 792,000 m², which comprises more than 70% of Iran's carpet exports. 35% of all Iranian carpets are produced in East Azerbaijan. East Azerbaijan province is also one of the richest regions of Iran in natural minerals, with 180 mines in 1997, of which 121 units are currently in operation, and the rest are being planned.
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...
has two Biosphere reserves in East Azerbaijan province. One in
Lake Urmia and the other at
Arasbaran
Arasbaran ( fa, ارسباران ''Arasbârân'') or shortened to Arasbar ( fa, ارسبار ''Arasbâr''), meaning "The Banks of the Aras/Araxes river," also known as "Qaradagh" or "Karadagh" ( az, Qaradağ / , meaning ...
.
Colleges and universities
East Azerbaijan also has some of Iran's prestigious universities including:
*
Sahand University of Technology
*
Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (TUOMS) (Persian: دانشگاه علوم پزشکی تبریز, ''Danushgah-e 'lum-e Pezeshki-ye Tebriz'') is public medical sciences university located in Tabriz, East Azarbaijan Province, Iran. It is rank ...
*
University of Tabriz
*
Azerbaijan University of Tarbiat Moallem
Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, ( fa, دانشگاه شهید مدنی آذربایجان, ''Danushgah-e Shihid-e Midâni-ye Âzerbaijan'') commonly called only ''Azarbaijan University'', is a public university located near Tabriz, East Azerb ...
Tabriz Islamic Arts University*
University of Maragheh
University of Maragheh is a public university in the city of Maragheh, in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. The university is a state-funded institution which has 4 faculties and 14 departments. Coming from different parts of Iran, approximately 3 ...
*
Engineering and Technical College of Bonab
*
Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Mianeh
Faculty may refer to:
* Faculty (academic staff), the academic staff of a university (North American usage)
* Faculty (division), a division within a university (usage outside of the United States)
* Faculty (instrument), an instrument or warrant ...
*
Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Marand
Faculty may refer to:
* Faculty (academic staff), the academic staff of a university (North American usage)
* Faculty (division), a division within a university (usage outside of the United States)
* Faculty (instrument), an instrument or warrant ...
*
Payameh noor University of Tabriz
*
Payameh noor University of Maragheh
*
Payameh noor University of Bonab
*
Payameh noor University of Marand
*
Payameh noor University of Mianeh
*
Payameh noor University of Shabestar
*
Payameh noor University of Azarshahr
*
Payameh noor University of Oskou
*
Payameh noor University of Ahar
*
Payameh noor University of hashtrood
*
Payameh noor University of Malekan
Islamic Azad University of BonabIslamic Azad University of TabrizIslamic Azad University of ShabestarIslamic Azad University of MaraghehIslamic Azad University of Miyaneh* Islamic Azad University of Ahar
* Islamic Azad University of Malekan
* Islamic Azad University of Hashtrood
*
Islamic Azad University of Azarshahr
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or ''Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the main ...
*
Islamic Azad University of Marand
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or ''Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the main ...
*
University College of Seraj, Tabriz
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...
*
University College of Rabe Rashidi, Tabriz
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...
University College of Nabi Akram , Tabriz* University College of Daneshvaran, Tabriz
* University College of Seraj, Tabriz
See also
*
Aras Free Zone
*
List of East Azarbaijan cities and towns by population
This is a list of cities in Iran, categorized by province. The census years listed below comes from the Statistical Center of Iran; since the year 2006 the country of Iran has had a census every 5 years. The cities that are bold are capitals of pro ...
References
External links
Official website
Cultural Heritage Organization of East AzerbaijanThe Union for Handwoven Carpets of East AzerbaijanArasbaran UNESCO Biosphere ReserveLake Urmia UNESCO Biosphere ReserveEast Azerbaijan Research Park net portalentries in th
Encyclopædia Iranica*
Bahram Moshiri's brief talk on Azerbaijan
{{DEFAULTSORT:East Azerbaijan Province
East Azerbaijan Province,