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Isfahan Province

استان اصفهان
Map of Iran with Isfahan province highlighted
Location of Isfahan province within Iran
Country Iran
Region Region 2
Capital Isfahan
Counties 29
Area
 • Total 107,018 km2 (41,320 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total 5,120,850
 • Estimate 
(2020)
5,343,000
 • Density 47.85036/km2 (123.9319/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+03:30 (IRST)
Main language(s) Predominantly Persian.
small Minority: Bakhtiari Luri, Qashqai, Georgian, Armenian languages in some regions of the province
HDI (2017) 0.830
very high · 3rd
Isfahan Province Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1966 1,703,701 —    
1986 3,294,916 +93.4%
2006 4,559,256 +38.4%
2011 4,879,312 +7.0%
2016 5,120,850 +5.0%
amar.org.ir

Isfahan Province (Persian: استان اصفهان, romanized: Ostāne Esfahan), also transliterated as Esfahan, Espahan, Isfahan, or Isphahan, is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. The capital of the province is the city of Isfahan. It is located in the center of the country in Iran's Region 2, whose secretariat is located in Isfahan.

At the 2006 National Census, the province's population was 4,499,327 in 1,223,684 households, with a literacy rate of 88.65 percent. The following census in 2011 counted 4,879,312 people in 1,454,162 households. At the most recent census in 2016, the population of the province was 5,120,850 in 1,607,482 households.

Geography

The Isfahan province covers an area of approximately 107,018 square km and is situated in the center of Iran. To its north, stand the Markazi (Central) Province and the provinces of Qom and Semnan. To its south, it is bordered by the provinces of Fars, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province. Aminabad is the most southern city of Isfahan province just 2 km north of the border. To the east, it is bordered by the province of Yazd. To the west, it is bordered by the province of Lurestan and to the southwest of the province of Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiyari.

The province experiences a moderate and dry climate on the whole, ranging between 40.6 °C (105.08 °F) and 10.6 °C (51 °F) on a cold day in the winter season. The average annual temperature has been recorded as 16.7 °C (62 °F) and the annual rainfall on average has been reported as 116.9 mm. The city of Sepahan (Esfahan) however experiences an excellent climate, with four distinct seasons.

With an elevation of 4,040 metres, the Shahankuh is the highest peak in Isfahan Province. This mountain is located about 20 kilometres southwest of the city of Fereydunshahr in the western part of Isfahan Province.

Isfahan province has 52 rivers, mostly small and temporary, with the exception of the Zāyanderud, which totals 405 km in length a basin area of 27,100 km2.

Biodiversity

Aphanius isfahanensis (Farsi: کپوردندان_اصفهان) is a species of Cyprinodontid fish endemic to the Zayandehrud river basin (see genus Aphanius). It is known only from three sites across the province. Allium chlorotepalum is an endemic species of Isfahan province, Astragalus vernaculus is also common in the west of the province.

History

Historians have recorded Espahan, Sepahan or Isfahan initially as a defense and military base. The security and protection of the gradually increasing castles and fortifications, thereby, would provide the protection of residents nearby, therefore leading to the growth of large settlements nearby. These historical castles were Atashgah, Sarooyieh, Tabarok, Kohan Dej, and Gard Dej. The oldest of these is Ghal'eh Sefeed and the grounds at Tamijan from prehistoric times. The historic village of Abyaneh, a nationwide attraction, also has Sassanid ruins and fire temples among other historical relics.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Isfahan province enjoyed high standards of prosperity as it became the capital of Safavid Persia. While the city of Sepahan (Esfahan) was their seat of monarchical, Kashan was their place of vacation and leisure.

Administrative divisions

Isfahan counties.svg

Isfahan Province Population History
Administrative Divisions 2006 2011 2016
Aran va Bidgol County 89,961 97,409 103,517
Ardestan County 43,585 41,405 42,105
Borkhar County1 108,933 122,419
Borkhar and Meymeh County2 277,783
Buin Miandasht County3 24,163
Chadegan County 33,684 33,942 32,479
Dehaqan County 34,149 34,844 34,511
Falavarjan County 232,019 247,014 249,814
Faridan County 81,622 79,743 49,890
Fereydunshahr County 38,955 38,334 35,654
Golpayegan County 82,601 87,479 90,086
Harand County4
Isfahan County 1,963,315 2,174,172 2,243,249
Jarqavieh County4
Kashan County 297,000 323,371 364,482
Khansar County 31,542 32,423 33,049
Khomeyni Shahr County 282,888 311,629 319,727
Khur and Biabanak County5 17,793 19,761
Kuhpayeh County4
Lenjan County 225,559 246,510 262,912
Mobarakeh County 132,925 143,474 150,441
Nain County 54,298 38,077 39,261
Najafabad County 279,014 300,288 319,205
Natanz County 43,947 42,239 43,977
Semirom County 70,735 65,047 74,109
Shahin Shahr and Meymeh County1 196,584 234,667
Shahreza County 139,702 149,555 159,797
Tiran and Karvan County 64,043 69,047 71,575
Varzaneh County4
Total 4,499,327 4,879,312 5,120,850
1A successor to Borkhar and Meymeh County
2Split into two counties
3Separated from Faridan County
4Separated from Isfahan County
5Separated from Nain County

Cities

According to the 2016 census, 4,507,430 people (over 88% of the population of Isfahan province) live in the following cities: Abrisham 22,429, Abuzeydabad 5,976, Afus 3,696, Alavijeh 8,067, Anarak 1,903, Aran and Bidgol 65,404, Ardestan 15,744, Asgaran 4,858, Asgharabad 6,876, Badrud 14,723, Bafran 1,978, [Bagh-e Bahadoran]] 10,279, Bagh-e Shad 4,356, Baharan Shahr 11,284, Baharestan 79,023, Barf Anbar 5,382, Barzok 4,588, Buin Miandasht 9,889, Chadegan 9,924, Chamgardan 15,574, Chermahin 13,732, Damaneh 4,366, Daran 20,078, Dastgerd 17,775, Dehaq 8,272, Dehaqan 17,945, Dizicheh 18,935, Dorcheh Piaz 47,800, Dowlatabad 40,945, Ezhiyeh 3,156, Falavarjan 37,704, Farrokhi 2,968, Fereydunshahr 13,603, Fuladshahr 88,426, Gaz 24,433, Goldasht 25,235, Golpayegan 58,936, Golshahr 9,904, Golshan 5,437, Gorgab 9,690, Guged 6,012, Habibabad 9,491, Hana 4,922, Harand 7,829, Hasanabad 4,478, Imanshahr 14,633, Isfahan 1,961,260, Jandaq 4,665, Jowsheqan-e Qali 4,181, Jowzdan 6,998, Kamu va Chugan 2,434, Karkevand 7,058, Kahriz Sang 10,442, Kashan 304,487, Kelishad va Sudarjan 25,635, Khaledabad 3,023, Khansar 21,883, Khomeyni Shahr 247,128, Khur 6,765, Komeshcheh 5,100, Khvorzuq 29,154, Komeh 2,305, Kuhpayeh 5,518, Kushk 13,248, Lay Bid 1,832, Mahabad 3,727, Majlesi 9,363, Manzariyeh 7,164, Meshkat 5,357, Meymeh 5,651, Mobarakeh 69,449, Mohammadabad 5,032, Nain 27,379, Najafabad 235,281, Nasrabad 6,425, Natanz 14,122, Neyasar 2,319, Nikabad 4,364, Nushabad 11,838, Pir Bakran 13,469, Qahderijan 34,226, Qahjavarestan 9,712, Qamsar 3,877, Rezvanshahr 3,606, Rozveh 4,332, Sagzi 5,063, Sedeh Lenjan 19,101, Sefidshahr 5,804, Semirom 26,942, Shahin Shahr 173,329, Shapurabad 5,915, Shahreza 134,952, Sin 5,495, Talkhuncheh 9,924, Tarq Rud 1,749, Tiran 21,703, Tudeshk 4,275, Vanak 1,665, Varnamkhast 18,700, Varzaneh 12,714, Vazvan 5,952, Zarrin Shahr 55,817, Zavareh 8,320, Zayandeh Rud 9,463, Zazeran 7,962, Ziar 3,918, and Zibashahr 10,200.

Demographics

Isfahan province encompasses various sects today. The majority of the people in the province are Persian speakers, but Bakhtiari Lurs, Kurds, Georgians, Armenians, Qashqais and Persian Jews also reside in the province. The official language of the province is Persian, though different ethnic groups and tribes speak languages of their own, including Judeo-Persian, Armenian, Georgian, Qashqai Turkic, Kurdish and Bakhtiari Lurish. Isfahan province is noted for the large number of cultural luminaries which it has produced, including poets, scholars, philosophers, theologians and scientists of national renown.

Language


Circle frame-1.svg

First language in Isfahan Province      Persian (79.52%)     Luri (7.20%)     Turkic (5.62%)     Central Plateau Group (3.33%)     Georgian (0.15%)     Biyabanaki (0.07%)     Armenian (0.05%)     Other, unknown (4.06%)

A majority of the population speak Persian as first language with a minority of Luri, Turkic, Georgian, Biyabanaki and Armenian speakers.

Modern economy

Nine tons of saffron are produced by this province by the year.

It is the biggest milk and dairy producer in Iran.

High tech

The state has 18k active fiber optically connected network ports as of mid 2023.

Military

Iranian armed forces the Islamic Republic military has several locations inside Isfahan province , There is also Esfahan nuclear fuel research and production center nfrpc. Hesa specializes in aerospace and helicopter maintenance and weaponry.

Tourism

Bridges

Main Isfahan attractions include

  • Shahrestan bridge
  • Khajoo (Khaju) Bridge in Isfahan
  • siosepol or Si-O-Se-Pol bridge
  • Choobi Bridge (Joubi Bridge)

Cuisine

According to the Isfahan atlas, well-known local dishes include Shefte [fa], Kachi, Kebab Golpayegan, Samanu Shahreza, Carrot stew [fa] Khansar , Yokhe bread (Kaak) and Semirom.

Education

Public universities

  • Isfahan University of Technology
  • Isfahan University
  • Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
  • Kashan University of Medical Sciences
  • Isfahan University of Art
  • Malek-Ashtar University of Technology
  • University of Kashan

Islamic Azad Universities

Several well-known Islamic Azad University campuses in Iran are located in the province:

  • Islamic Azad University of Falavarjan
  • Islamic Azad University of Meymeh
  • Islamic Azad University of Kashan
  • Islamic Azad University of Majlesi
  • Islamic Azad University of Shahreza
  • Islamic Azad University of Najafabad
  • Islamic Azad University of Khomeynishahr
  • Islamic Azad University of Isfahan
  • Islamic Azad University of Khorasgan
Some parts of the university campus
Islamic Azad University of Najafabad has the largest university campus in Middle East

Gallery

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Provincia de Isfahán para niños

  • Georgians in Iran
  • History of Iran
  • List of the historical structures in the Isfahan province
  • List of cities in Isfahan Province by population
  • Ostandari Isfahan
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