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Tehran province)
Introduction
The province of Tehran is one of 30 provinces in Iran. It covers on area of 18,956 square kilometers and is located to the north of the central plateau of Iran. This province has common borders with the Mazandaran province from north, Qom province from south, Semnan province from east and Qazvin province from west. The metropolis of Tehran is not only the capital city of the province, but is also the capital of Iran. According to the latest records, the townships of this province includes Tehran, Damavand, Ray, Savoj Bolaq , Shemiranat, Shahriar, Varamin , Jajrud , Lar, Pakdasht , Nazarabad , and Karaj, 45 municipalities in total.
The province gained importance when Tehran was claimed the capital by the Qajar dynasty in 1778. Today Tehran ranks in the top 20 metropolitan cities of the world in size.
Geography
The province of Tehran has over 12,000,000 inhabitants and is Iran's most densely populated region. Approximately 84.15% reside in urban areas and 15.85% in rural areas of the province.
The highest point of the province is Damavand peak at an attitude of 5,678 m, and the lowest point of the province being the plains of Varamin, 790 m above sea level.
The largest rivers of this province are Karaj River and Jajrud River.
Mountain ranges such as The Alborz span the north; Savad Kooh and Firooz Kooh are located in the north east; Lavasanat, Qarah Daq, Shemiranat, Hassan Abad and Namak Mountains are in the southern areas; Bibi Shahr Banoo and Alqadr are situated in the south east and the heights of Qasr-e-Firoozeh being located to the east of the province.
Environmentally speaking, the climate of Tehran province in the southern areas is warm and dry, but in the mountain vicinity is cold and semi-humid, and in the higher regions is cold with long winters. The hottest months of the year are from mid-July to mid-September when temperatures range from 28°-30° C and the coldest months experience 1° C around December-January. Tehran city has moderate winters and hot summers. Average annual rainfall is approximately 400 mm, the maximum being during the winter season.
History and Culture
Tehran province has several archeological sites clearly indicating settlements several thousand years old. Until 300 years ago, Ray was the most prominent of the cities of the province.
However, the city of Tehran rose to become the larger city and capital of Iran by 1778, and since then has been the political, cultural, economical, and commercial nucleus of Iran. During the past 200 years it has been home to many reputed scholars, writers, poets and artists, both those who have lived here and those who are born here.
Tehran has over 1500 historical sites of cultural significance registered with Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization. The oldest of these in Tehran province are the remains of two sites in Firouzkuh region that date back to the 4th millenia BC.
Tehran province today
Tehran is the commercial heart of Iran. Tehran province has over 17,000 industrial units employing 390,000 people, 26% of all units in Iran. The province contains 30% of Iran's economy, and comprises 40% of Iran's consumer market. The province has three hydro dams namely Latiyan, Lar, and Amir Kabir as well as two natural lakes, providing the water supply of Tehran and the province.[1]
The province contains 170 mines, over 330 square kilometres of forests, and over 12800 square kilometres of pasture.[1]
Generally speaking, year round, regions such as the southern slopes of the Alborz Mountains, especially in the mountains, valleys, and rivers and artificial lakes formed behind the great dams of Amir Kabir, Latiyan and Lar along with natural lakes of Jaban and Tarr provide considerable recreation for the province.
Moreover, due to excessive snowfall in the northern areas of the province during the winter season, the Alborz mountains form an excellent environment for winter sports such as skiing. Dizin, Shemshak, and Tochal are the most popular skiing resorts.
Tehran province's major universities are:
See also: Kilan
External links
See the city of Tehran for further information and links, also: List of the localities around Tehran
[1]: According to the information released by the Office of the provincial governor, linked above.
Last updated: 05-18-2005 00:00:34
