Zanjan province facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zanjan province استان زنجان
Province
Location of Zanjan province in Iran
Country	Iran
Region	Region 3
Capital	Zanjan
Counties	8
Area
• Total	21,773 km2 (8,407 sq mi)
Population  (2016)
• Total	1,057,461
• Density	48.5675/km2 (125.7893/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+03:30 (IRST)
Main language(s)	Persian (official) local languages: Azerbaijani (Majority) Tati
HDI (2017)	0.771 high · 23rd

Zanjan province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital city is Zanjan. This province is a mountainous area, covering almost 22,000 square kilometers. It is located in Iran's Region 3.

Most of the people in Zanjan province live in cities. The biggest cities are the capital, Zanjan, and Abhar. In 2016, over 1 million people lived in Zanjan province.

History of Zanjan Province

Long ago, the city of Zanjan was called Aganzana by a geographer named Ptolemy. It is believed that a king from the Sassanid era, Ardashir I of Persia, rebuilt the city. He named it Shahin. Later, its name changed to Zangan, which then became Zanjan in Arabic.

In the past, Zanjan province was known as Khamseh. This name means "province with five tribes." The Zanjan province also includes parts of what used to be the Gerrus province.

Old Names of Zanjan

The Safavi era Bazaar of Zanjan

Since the time of the Zand dynasty, Zanjan and its nearby areas were called "Khamseh." This name was used in old books to describe the region. Even before the Zand era, the name "Khamseh" was likely used. For example, a tribe called "Afshar-e Khamseh" returned to this area after the fall of the Afsharid dynasty. This shows the name was already in use.

Later, during the Qajars' time, Zanjan province was still called Khamseh. Important figures like Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar and Mirza Abolhassan Khan Ilchi used this name. European travelers also noted the name "Khamseh" for the province. Pierre Amédée Jaubert, a French visitor in 1804, was one of the first Europeans to use this name.

Geography of Zanjan

Landscape in Zanjan province, Tarom

Zanjan province covers an area of about 22,164 square kilometers. This is about 1.34% of Iran's total land. On average, there are 47 people living in each square kilometer. Zanjan is in the northwest of Iran. It shares borders with seven other provinces. These include East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, and Gilan.

The amount of rain changes throughout the year. In early spring, Zanjan gets about 72 millimeters of rain. In late summer, it gets much less, only about 3.6 millimeters. The air is more humid in the mornings, around 74%. By noon, the humidity drops to about 43%.

The Zanjan River is the only large river in this region.

Climate in Zanjan

Zanjan has a highland climate. This means winters are cold and snowy in the mountains. The plains have a more moderate climate during winter. Summers in Zanjan are warm. The highest average temperature is around 27°C (81°F). The lowest average temperature is about -19°C (-2°F). On very hot days, temperatures can reach 32°C (90°F). On very cold days, they can drop to -27°C (-17°F).

How Zanjan Province is Divided

Zanjan province is divided into smaller areas called counties. These counties help manage the different parts of the province. Here is how the population of these counties has changed over time:

Cities in Zanjan Province

In 2016, over 711,000 people lived in the cities of Zanjan province. This is more than 67% of the total population. Some of the main cities include:

• Zanjan (the capital city) with 430,871 people
• Abhar with 99,285 people
• Khorramdarreh with 55,368 people
• Qeydar with 34,921 people

People of Zanjan

The main group of people living in Zanjan province are Azerbaijanians. After them, the Tats are the next largest group. Like in other parts of Iran, the most common language spoken is Persian.

Economy and Industry

Farming is a very important job in Zanjan. Farmers grow crops like rice, corn, and potatoes. They also raise animals such as chickens, cattle, and sheep. Zanjan is especially known for its seedless grapes.

The province also makes products like bricks, cement, and carpets. Minerals like chromium, lead, and copper are mined here. Zanjan is home to IASBS, which is a leading research center for science in Iran.

Zanjan is famous for its handicrafts. These include special knives, traditional sandals called charoogh, and malileh. Malileh is a beautiful craft made from silver wires. Artists in Zanjan create decorative dishes and silver jewelry using this method. In the past, Zanjan was known for its strong and sharp knives. However, this tradition is slowly fading because cheaper knives from other countries are now available. Many people in the villages are still traditional carpet weavers.

The province's economy benefits from its location. It connects central Iran to the northwestern provinces. The railway and highway that link Iran's capital, Tehran, to Tabriz and Turkey pass right through Zanjan province.

Higher Education

Zanjan has several important places for higher learning:

• The Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS) is in Zanjan city. It is one of Iran's top centers for research and education in pure sciences.
• The University of Zanjan
• The Zanjan University of Medical Sciences
• The Islamic Azad University of Zanjan

See also

In Spanish: Provincia de Zanyán para niños