, native_name_lang = fa , settlement_type = City , image_skyline = نمای کلی مجموعه صخره ای بی بی کند.jpg , imagesize = , image_alt = , image_caption = General view of Bibi Kand rock complex , image_flag = , flag_alt = , image_seal = , seal_alt = , image_shield = , shield_alt = , etymology = , nickname = , motto = , image_map = , map_alt = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Iran , pushpin_map_alt = , pushpin_map_caption = , pushpin_label_position = , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Iran , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = West Azerbaijan , subdivision_type2 = County , subdivision_name2 =

Shahin Dezh , native_name_lang = fa , settlement_type = City , image_skyline = نمای کلی مجموعه صخره ای بی بی کند.jpg , imagesize = , image_alt = , image_caption = ...

, subdivision_type3 = District , subdivision_name3 =

Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

, established_title = , established_date = , founder = , leader_title = , leader_name = , leader_title1 = , leader_name1 = , unit_pref = Metric , area_footnotes = , area_total_km2 = , elevation_footnotes = , elevation_m = , population_footnotes = , population_as_of = 2016 , population_total = 43131 , population_density_km2 = auto , population_note = , population_demonym = , timezone = IRST , utc_offset = +3:30 , postal_code = , area_code = , website = , module = , footnotes = Shahin Dezh ( fa, شاهين‌دژ, ,Aseman: منطقه‌ای که مرکز آن تکاب است و معروف به یوخاری‌محال (محال علیا) و منطقه دیگر را که مرکز آن سایین قالا یا همان شاهین دژ فعلی است آشاقی‌محال (محال سفلی) می‌نامند
/ref> ; also Romanized as Shāhīn Dezh; also known as Şā’īn Dezh, Shahindej, and Sahin Dazh; formerly, Sāīn Kale, and Şā’īn Qal‘eh) is a city in the Central District of Shahin Dezh County, West Azerbaijan province, Iran, and serves as capital of the county. At the 2006 census, its population was 34,204 in 8,671 households. The following census in 2011 counted 38,396 people in 10,782 households. The latest census in 2016 showed a population of 43,131 people in 12,826 households. Shahin Dezh is located about 1,300 meters in elevation. The city is on the

Zarrineh River The Zarrineh River ( fa, زرینه‌رود , lit=''golden river'' ) is a river in Kurdistan Province and West Azarbaijan Province, Iran. It is 302 km long, arising in the Zagros Mountains of Kurdistan Province south of Saqqez, where it i ...

, southeast of Lake Urmia.

History

The modern town of Shahin Dezh was formerly known as Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh. The name Ṣāʾīn (also spelled Sāīn, Shahin, etcetera.) is derived from the Mongol ''sayin'', which translates as "good". The local

Turkic Turkic may refer to: * anything related to the country of Turkey * Turkic languages, a language family of at least thirty-five documented languages ** Turkic alphabets (disambiguation) ** Turkish language, the most widely spoken Turkic language * ...

Afshars were brought to the area from Shiraz at the beginning of the 19th century by Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (1797–1834), the second shah of Qajar Iran. Later, a segment of these Afshars had to migrate to Urmia in order to make way for the Chardawri (Chardowli)

Lurs Lurs () are an Iranian people living in the mountains of western Iran. The four Luri branches are the Bakhtiari, Mamasani, Kohgiluyeh and Lur proper, who are principally linked by the Luri language. Lorestan Province is named after the Lu ...

. The chief of the Chardowli's resided at Mahmuddjik and was the commander of men. In 1830, Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh was sacked by Kurds led by Sheikh Ubeydullah. Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh, being the site of an Iranian military garrison in the past, safeguarded the entrance to the Azerbaijan Province through the Zarrineh valley. The ancient

Karaftu caves The Karaftu caves ( fa, کرفتو,) are an ensemble of artificially cut rock chambers located between Saqqez and Divandarreh, Kurdistan Province, Iran. The cave complex dates back to the 3rd or 4th century BC and is of major importance due to i ...

, first described by

Robert Ker Porter Sir Robert Ker Porter, KCH (1777–1842) was a Scottish artist, author, diplomat and traveller. Known today for his accounts of his travels in Russia, Spain, and Persia, he was one of the earliest panorama painters in Britain, was appointed hi ...

(1777–1842), and the old site of Takht-e Soleyman were formerly located in the territory of the Afshars of Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh. The lake of Chamli Göl, near the village of Badarli with its floating island were likewise well known at the time. Some of the Afshars of Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh belonged to the Yarsanism sect. The old site of Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh is now occupied by the modern town of Shahin Dezh, which is also the chef-lieu of Shahin Dezh County. In , its population was 3,170 which by 1991 had increased to 25,050. The fortress of Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh must not be confused with the similarly named fortress on the

Abhar river The Abharrood ( az, اَبَرچای) (meaning ''Abhar's river'') is a river in Iran that runs between Abhar and Namak Lake near Qom city in the center of Iranian plateaus. It was a perennial river before last Climate variability and change ...

to the east of Soltaniyeh, which was mentioned by Hamdallah Mustawfi (1281 – after 1339/40).

References

External links

Images from this city
{{Shahin Dezh County, state=collapsed Shahin Dezh County Cities in West Azerbaijan Province Populated places in Shahin Dezh County Kurdish settlements in West Azerbaijan Province