| |
|
Tabriz is the capital of
Azarbaijan province and one of the major trade centers in Iran. Its
strategic location at the north west corner of Iran gives it a special
political and economical importance. Tabriz is located about 600 KM
North West of Tehran and is surrounded by Iraq to the west, Turkey to
the north west and Azarbaijan to the north. |
|
|
City in
Iran with 1.2 million inhabitants (1996
census). Tabriz is situated in the northwestern Iran, at an elevation of
about 1,400 metres above sea level.
 The
economical base of Tabriz is manufacturing, commerce and transportation.
Local industries produce carpets, textiles, food, footwear and soap.
|
|
|
Central in Tabriz is the Blue Mosque, built in the 15th century, and a
citadel from the 14th century. Tabriz has seen many wars, but it is the
many earthquakes that have destroyed the most. The city is the largest
in the Azeri parts of Iran. |
|
|
more...
Tabriz, Being the provincial capital of
Eastern Azarbaaijaan ( Aturpaatgaan ), has slightly more than 1,400,000
population (1992 census) and was the second largest city in Iran until
the early 1970's. Tabriz has been the capital city of Iran on numerous
times throughout the old history of this country. Tabriz is located in a
valley to the north of the beautiful Mount Sahand. The valley opens out
into a plain that slopes down gently to the northern end of Lake Orumieh,
about 60 km to the west.
Tabriz is 310 km southeast of Bazargan ( Iranian- Turkish frontier);
159 km south of Jolfa on Iran- Aran (Azarbaijan republic ) border, and
can be reached by very good roads, rail (742km from Tehran, with
connections to the Europe and Moscow), and air from Tehran and other
major cities.
The 160 km long Talkheh Rud or Aji Chai is the major river of the
city, formed by merging of three smaller rivers of Ab Nahand, Guri Chai,
and Ojan Chai which all originate from the Sabalan Mountain range and
heights in the southeastern part of the town. The Talkheh Rud and other
streams join the lake of Orumieh after passing through the valleys
between the Sorkhband and Yekkeh Chin mountain north of Tabriz and Osku
district. Mehran Rud also called Liqvan rud originates from the peaks
between Karim and Sultan Mountains overlooking the Liqvan village near
the beautiful
Esparakhoon and Qeshloq villages. |
|
|
By virtue of its location, Tabriz has a mild Summer climate,which makes
this city an ideal Summer vacation spot for the Iranians from the more
Southern areas of the country. The Winters are cold and the snow filled
mountains of Tabriz are perfect for the lovers of Winter sports. Tabriz
has a continental type of climate with low humidity of average annual
rainfall of 289 mm.
Tabriz has been vulnerable to earthquakes throughout its long
history, one of which nearly destroyed the city completely in 858. After
being rebuilt, it was again devastated in 1041, when more than 40,000
people lost their lives.
|
|
The city has a long and turbulent history: although the early history of
Tabriz is shrouded in legend and mystery, the town's origin is believed
to date back to distant antiquity, perhaps even before the Sassanian era
(224-651AD). The oldest stone tablet with a reference to Tabriz is that
of Sargon the second, the Assyrian King. The tablet refers to a place
called Tauri Castle and Tarmkis. The historians believe this castle was
situated on the site of the present day Tabriz.
It was the capital of Azarbaijan in the 3rd century AD and again
under the Mongol Ilkhanid dynasty (1256 - 1353), although for some time
Maragheh supplanted it.
During the reign of Aqa Khan of the Ilkhanids, as well as under the
reign of Ghazan Khan, Tabriz reached the peak of glory and importance.
Many great artists and philosophers from all over the world traveled to
Tabriz.
In 1392, after the end of Mongol rule, the town was sacked by
Tamerlane. It was soon restored under the Turkman tribe of the Qara
Qoyunlu, who established a short-lived local dynasty. Under the
Safavids it rose from regional to national capital for a short period,
but the second of the Safavid kings, Shah Tahmasb, moved the capital to
Qazvin because of the vulnerability of Tabriz to Ottoman attacks. The
town then went into a period of decline, fought over by the Iranians,
Ottomans and Russians and struck by earthquake .
Tabriz was the residence of the crown prince under the Qajar kings,
but the town did not return to prosperity until the second half of the
19th century. The greatest boost to Tabriz came with the opening up of
Iran to the West at the turn of this century, when it became the main
staging post between the interior of Iran and the Black Sea and,for a
short time, the economic capital. In 1908 it was the center of a revolt
against Mohammad Ali Shah, which was only put down with the brutal
intervention of the Russians.
In the second Irano-Russian War the city was occupied by the Czar
troops. However, it was returned to Iran following the signing of
Turkmanchai Treaty, a peace and trade settlement that ended the Irano-Russian
War of 1826-1828.
The Iranian Constitutional Revolution originated in Tabriz and
culminated during the reign of Mohammad Ali Shah of Qajar dynasty
(1779-1925). Sattar Khan and Baqer Khan were the two most prominent
leading figures behind the movement.
Tabriz was occupied by Russians several times in the first half of
this century, including most of both world wars. A railway line to the
border at Jolfa, built by the expansionist Russians, was of little
importance until recently, but it has increased in significance in the
'90s as a result of Iran's friendlier relations with its northern
neighbors.
With a very rich history, Tabriz used to house many historical
monuments. Unfortunately, many of them were destroyed in repeated
invasions and attacks of foreign forces, negligence of the ruling
governments, as well natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods.
What remains now mostly dates back to the Ilkhanids, the Safavids, and
the Qajars. Some of the monuments are unrivaled masterpieces of
architecture.
There are many factories and great industrial and productive sites
in Tabriz which have changed it into one of the industrial centers in
the country. The most important factories are as follows:
Tractor, machinery and ball-bearing manufacturing factories, refinery
and so many other centers such as carpet weaving sites.
There are weekly and daily flights from Tabriz International Airport
to Tehran, Mashhad, Rasht, Orumiyeh, Pars Abad (Moghan) and Kish
Island. There are over ten hotels ( first class), which provide good
facilities for the tourists. |
|
|
|
