Kurdistan Province
Kordestān, also kordistan or Kurdistan (Persian استان کردستان Ostān Kordestān, Kurdish Kurdistan ) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is part of the Kurdish settlement areas and should not be confused with the larger geographical Kurdistan.
In the province of 1,438,543 people ( 2006 census ). The area of the province covers 29 137 square kilometers. The population density is 49 inhabitants per square kilometer.
Kordestān is located in the west of Iran, bordering Iraq. In the north of the West Azerbaijan province is located in the northeast of Zanjan, Hamadan in the east and in the south of Kermanshah.
The provincial capital is Sanandaj ( Sine in Kurdish ) with 316 862 inhabitants ( 2006 census ). Other major cities are Marivan, Baneh, Saqqiz, Qorveh and Bidschar.
Geography
Since the entire Kordestān is mountainous, there are a large number of rivers, lakes, glaciers and caves. This makes Kordestān to a main destination of tourists and mountaineers.
One of the longest rivers with 302 km of Zarrinehorood, which flows into the Lake Urmia. The Sirvan River in turn flows west to Iraq and finally flows into the Tigris. The lake Zarivar is one of the most beautiful lakes Kordestān. He is an average of 3 m, but 50 m deep at its deepest point. It is 1.7 km wide and 5 km long. The lake is surrounded by dense forests and is located west of Marivan.
There are also mineral sources, such Govaz at Kamyaran, Abetalkh at Bidschar and Baba Gargar at Ghorveh. A famous cave is Kereftoo at Divanderre where inside the cave shrines are built. A temple dedicated to the Greek god Heracles. The cave is 267 m long and Schoovi is Baneh. The highest mountain is 3330 m of Chehelcheschmeh. Other mountains are Hossein Bak with 3091 m and 3059 m with Masjede Mirza.
The fauna includes leopards, rams, wild goats, hyenas, jackals, wolves, foxes, sables, weasels and birds such as partridges, wild ducks, storks and eagles. Kordestān located in the Zagros Mountains. Therefore, it has a typical continental climate with long, cold winters.
Administration
The province is divided as follows:
History
Kordestān belongs to the entire Zagrosregion the earliest settlement sites of the Medes and Persians. From here, the Assyrian Empire was subjected to 612 BC. After the defeat of the Sasanian 634 AD by the Muslim Arabs, Iran became Muslim. However, there was from time to time even regional uprisings. So the Kurds rejected here in 835 against the Caliph Al- Mutasim.
In the next centuries Kordestān as other regions devastated by the Mongols and Tamerlane. After the Europeans used the sea route for trade with India and China as an alternative for the Silk Road in the 16th century, Kordestān lost its economic importance. Sultan Mohammed Chodabandeh built about 1220 as the administrative seat of the province the place Sultanabad Chamchal near the Bisutunregion. 1372 pulled the management but then after Hassanabad, which is 6 km south of Sanandaj. In the 13th century the Kurdish dynasty of Ardalan came to power and ruled Kordestān until 1867.
Population
Half of the population of 1.6 million people (estimated in 2006 ) lives in the cities. A majority of people are Kurds, who mostly speak Sorani. The Sorani is also called Ardalani. Other Kurdish dialects are Hewramani ( in Marivan ) and Kurmanji. In the eastern parts of the province, ie at Bidschar and Qorveh also Azerbaijanis live. The Persians do not constitute a large proportion.
Economy and infrastructure
The provincial living from agriculture and animal husbandry. Agricultural products are wheat, barley, grains and fruits. The industry is comprised of chemical, metal, leather and food industry.
Colleges and Universities
- Medical University of Kurdistan
- Tohid Medical Center
- University of Kurdistan
- Islamic Azad University in Sanandaj
Attractions
The cultural authority of Iran lists 211 remarkable cultural and historical site, located in Kordestān. One of them, namely the Ghal'eh Kohneh at Bidschar, dates from the time of the Sassanids.
Famous people
- Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou, Chairman of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran from 1973-1989
- Sadegh Scharafkandi, Chairman of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran from 1989-1993
- Bahman Ghobadi, Iranian- Kurdish screenwriter and film director
- Giwar Hajabi, German - Kurdish rapper
- Azad Azadpour, German - Kurdish rapper
- Roya Tuloui, Iranian- Kurdish human rights and women 's rights activist