Gilan Province
Gilan (Persian گيلان ) is one of 31 provinces of Iran. The capital is the Rasht.
In the province of 2,404,861 people ( 2006 census ). The province covers 14,042 square kilometers and has a population density of 171 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Geography
Gilan is located in the north of the country. It is bordered on the north by the Caspian Sea, on the west by the province of Ardabil, on the east by the province of Mazandaran and on the south by the provinces of Zanjan and Qazvin.
Gilan contains after the last administrative division of 1996, the cities of Astara, Astaneh Ashrafiyeh, Bandar Anzali, Rasht, Rudbar, Rudsar, Somiyehsara, Fuman, Lahijan, Langerud, Talesch and shaft.
Population
Of the population lived in cities in 1996 46.8 % and 53.2 % in rural areas. Most of the inhabitants speak Gilaki as their first language. Moreover, in the northwest of the province ( Talesh ) Taleshi is spoken. For several decades, however, dominates in some areas Taleshs Azeri, with the language related to Turkish Azerbaijani population from the north- western Iran ( Ardebil provinces as well as Western and Eastern Azerbaijan).
History
The Iron Age cemetery of Amlasch is located in the province of Gilan. Together with Iranian Azerbaijan and its capital Rasht Gilan were repeatedly occupied by Russia and the Soviet Union: 1723-36, 1909/11-12, 1915-18, 1920-21, 1941-46. Here the Iranian Soviet Republic was established.
Administrative divisions
The Gilan province is divided into twelve districts:
Universities
- University of Gilan
- Islamic Azad University of Astara
- Islamic Azad University of Bandar Anzali
- Islamic Azad University of Rasht
- Islamic Azad University of Lahijan
- Gilan University of Medical Sciences
- Institute of Higher Education for Academic Jihad of Rasht
- Technical & Vocational Training Organization of Gilan