Sheikh Safi's Tomb

Ardabil (Persian: اردبیل; also known as: Ardebil; ancient name: Artavil) is one of 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the north-west of the country, bordering the Republic of Azerbaijan and the provinces of East Azarbaijan, Zanjan, and Gilan. Its center is the city of Ardabil. It used to be part of East Azarbaijan province, and was made a separate province in 1993. Ardabil is the seat of the sanctuary and tomb of Shaikh Safî ad-Dîn, eponym of the Safavid Dynasty. Image File history File links province of Iran File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Persian is a language spoken in Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... Iran consists of 30 provinces: Provinces are governed from a local center, mostly the largest local city. ... East Azarbaijan province enjoys some of Irans most favorable climatic conditions. ... Zanjan (زنجان in Persian) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. ... Guilan or Gilan (گیلان in Persian) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran, known during ancient times as part of Hyrcania, with a population of approximately 2 million and an area of 14,700 sq. ... Ardabil (in persian: اردبیل other name: Ardebil ancient name: Artavil ) a historical city in north-western Iran. ... East Azarbaijan province enjoys some of Irans most favorable climatic conditions. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Shaikh (Arabic: شيخ ),(also rendered as Sheik, Shaykh or Sheikh) is a word in the Arabic language meaning elder of tribe, lord or a revered old man. ... The ethnic Persian Safi Al-Din Ardebili (of Ardebil) (1252-1334), eponym of the Safavid Dynasty, was the spiritual heir and son in law of the great Sufi Murshid (Grand Master) Sheikh Zahed Gilani, of Lahijan in Gilan Province in northern Iran. ... An eponym is the name of a person, whether real or fictitious, which has (or is thought to have) given rise to the name of a particular place, tribe, discovery or other item. ... The Safavids were a long-lasting Turkic-speaking Iranian dynasty that ruled from 1501 to 1736 and first established Shiite Islam as Persias official religion. ...

Climate and Geography

Many tourists come to the region for its cool climate (max 35 °C) during the hot summer months. The winters are bitter cold, with a temperature plummeting to -25 °C.

Its famous natural region is the Sabalan mountains. The majority of Ardebil province's population is composed of Azerbaijanis. The province is considered the coldest province in Iran by many. Large parts of the province are green and forested. Sabalan (سبلان Sabalân in Persian;also called Sāvālān in Azerbaijani) is an inactive volcano in Ardabil province of Iran. ...

Famous athlete such as Ali Daei is originally from Ardabil. Ali Daei (علی دایی in Persian) (born March 21, 1969) is an Iranian footballer who is a striker for Saba Battery Tehran and the Iran national football team. ...

Ardabil's capital stands about 70 km from the Caspian Sea and has an area of 18011 km². Neighbouring on the Caspian Sea and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the city is of great political and economical significance. The province has been blessed with splendid natural beauty and numerous sights. Caspian Sea viewed from orbit The Caspian Sea is a landlocked endorheic sea of Eurasia between Asia and Europe. ... Caspian Sea viewed from orbit The Caspian Sea is a landlocked endorheic sea of Eurasia between Asia and Europe. ...

History

The history of Ardabil has close connections to that of Azarbaijan. The province is believed to be as old as the Achaemenid era. It is mentioned in the Avesta, where Zoroaster was born by the river Aras and wrote his book in the Sabalan Mountains. During the Islamic conquest of Iran, Ardabil was the largest city in Azarbaijan, and remained so until the Mongol invasion period. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Iranian Azerbaijan. ... Achaemenid Empire The Achaemenid Dynasty was a dynasty in the ancient Persian Empire, including Cyrus II the Great, Darius I and Xerxes I. At the height of their power, the Achaemenid rulers of Persia ruled over territories roughly emcompassing some parts of todays Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon... See Avesta Municipality for the Swedish town Yasna 28. ... Zoroaster, in a popular Parsi Zoroastrian depiction. ... Aras may have one of the following meanings: A synonym for Araks River. ... Sabalan (سبلان Sabalân in Persian;also called Sāvālān in Azerbaijani) is an inactive volcano in Ardabil province of Iran. ... The Islamic conquest of Iran (637-651 CE) destroyed the Sassanid Empire and led to the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Iran. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Iranian Azerbaijan. ...

Shah Ismail I started his campaign to nationalize Iran's government and land from here, but consequently announced Tabriz as his capital in 1500CE. Yet Ardabil remained an important city both politically and economically until modern times. Shah Ismail I, the founder of the Safavid State. ... Tabriz City Hall, built in 1895, by Arfaol molk, with the aid of German engineers. ...

Culture

It has many hot springs and beautiful natural landscapes and these attracts tourists. The mineral springs of Ardabil are Beele-Darreh, Sar'eyn, Sardabeh and Booshloo, being famous for their medicinal qualities throughout Iran. It has also many beauty lakes: the largest of which are Ne'or, Shoorabil, ShoorGel, NouShahr and Aloocheh that are the habitats of some species of water birds. The beautiful Lake Ne'or is located in a mountainous area 48 km south-east of the city of Ardabil. It covers an area of 2.1 km² and has an average depth of 3 metres. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

It is fed by springs in the lake bed. Lake Shoorabil is located in a hilly area south of the city of Ardabil and covers an area of 640,000 m². The surface of the lake is covered with a thin white layer of minerals, being useful for healing skin diseases and rheumatism. Near the lake there is the leisure complex of Shoorabil. Being a city of great antiquity, the origins of Ardabil go back 4000 to 6000 years (according to historical research in this city). This city was the capital of Azerbaijan province in different times, but its golden age was in the Safavid period. The Safavids were a long-lasting Turkic-speaking Iranian dynasty that ruled from 1501 to 1736 and first established Shiite Islam as Persias official religion. ...

The other significant historical monuments are as follows: the mausoleum of Sheikh Jebra'il, located 2 km north of Ardabil, the old but always lively bazaar,the babadavood anbaran the Friday mosque, and a few ancient bridges. In addition to these, in many villages of Ardabil, relics of ancient monuments, including tombs have been found.

Colleges and universities

• 1. Ardebil University of Medical Sciences
  2. Mohaghghegh Ardebili University
  3. Islamic Azad University of Ardabil
  4. Islamic Azad University of Khalkhal

External links

• Azerb Link Of Ardebil
• Encyclopedia of Orient About Ardebil
• Ardebil-Iran Carvan Tourism

Provinces of Iran
Ardabil | Bushehr | Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari | East Azarbaijan | Isfahan | Fars | Guilan | Golestan | Hamadan | Hormozgan | Ilam | Kerman | Kermanshah | Khuzestan | Kohkiluyeh and Buyer Ahmad | Kurdistan | Lorestan | Markazi | Mazandaran | North Khorasan | Qazvin | Qom | Razavi Khorasan | Semnan | Sistan and Baluchistan | South Khorasan | Tehran | West Azarbaijan | Yazd | Zanjan