Climate : Cold
OldName : Atourpatkan
Area : 45491
Population : 3724620
East Azerbaijan Province is one of the 31 provinces of
Iran. It is in the northwest of the country, bordering
Armenia and the Republic of
Azerbaijan, and the provinces of
Ardabil,
West ...see more Azerbaijan, and
Zanjan.
Its capital is
Tabriz.
The province covers an area of approximately 47,830 km², it has a population of around four million people. The historical city of
Tabriz is the most important city of this province, culturally, politically, and commercially.
The province has common borders with the current Republics of
Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Nakhchivan. A fine network of roads and railways connect
East Azerbaijan to other parts of
Iran and also to neighboring countries.
The highest peak of
East Azerbaijan is Sahand Mountain at 3,722 m of elevation, lying south of
Tabriz, whereas the lower lying areas are around Garmadooz (
Ahar).
The heights of the province may be classified into three sectors, namely: the Qara Daq Mountains, the Sahand and Bozqoosh Mountains, and the Qaflan Kooh Mountains.
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 from part of
Bonab.
Between 1996 and 2002, five new counties were formed: Ajabshir,
Azarshahr, Charoimaq,
Osku, and
Varzaqan.[3] In 2010 Kalibar was split in half with the northern part becoming
Khoda Afarin, while the southern part kept the name Kalibar.
East Azerbaijan is one of the most archaic territories in
Iran. 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, 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 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 constitutionalist movement of
Iran began here in the late 19th century.
Today,
East Azerbaijan province is an industrial center of
Iran.
East Azerbaijan province has over 5000 manufacturing units, of which at least 800 are industrial (6% percent of national total).
The value of product from these units in 1997 totalled 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.
Some of the major industries include Azerr glass industries, Maraqeh paper manufacturing,
Ahar Sungun copper and nepheline syenite, the
Tabriz Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex,
Tabriz Tractor Manufacturing Co.,
Azerbaijan steel, foundry and auto-part manufacturing, food industries, leather and shoe industries, and the
Tabriz Machine Manufacturing Co.
Tabriz also has an excellent position in the handicraft industry of
Iran, having 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.
Without exaggeration, Iranian rugs owe their fame to the creative minds of the designers and the deft hands of the
Carpet weavers of
East Azerbaijan.
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 has two Biosphere reserves in
East Azerbaijan province. One in Lake
Urmia and the other at Arasbaran.
