West Azarbayjan

Main Townships: Khoy, Mahabad, Maku, Miandoab, Orumieh, Salmas, Takab, etc Main Attractions: Baqcheh Jooq Palace, Hasanloo Ancient Hill, Orumieh Lake, Qarah (Tatawoos) Church, Qezelbash Tribes, Takht-e-Soleiman Castle, etc.

Townships, West Azarbayjan

Bukan

The said township lies between the two provinces of West Azarbayjan and Kurdestan . Its capital being the city of Bukan that lies en route from the city of Miandoab to Saqez. Bukan lies alongside the Simineh Rood River.

Buke in the Kurdish language means bride and Bukan is its plural. As this area forms a cross-road when rural people after a marriage ceremony wanted to take their bride, they were compelled to cross en route from this vicinity to the other. Crossing this village they used to dance and sing all together around the pool which is at present even exists and is considered to be a sight seeing area.

Chaldran (Siyah Cheshmeh)

The township of Chaldran is to the northwest of Iran, with the city of Khoy to the south and Maku to the north. From the south, it is about 150 km. away from Turkey. In the year 920 AH., Shah Esmail Safavid and Soltan Saleem Osmani signed a treaty in the Chaldran plain. Chaldran has gold, mercury and asbestos quarries.

Khoy

Khoy is one of the ancient regions of Iran with a moderate climate. The capital city being Khoy located 807 km. from Tehran. The word Khoy means 'salt', as the primary settlers in this region were the Medes due to the presence of a salt quarry here, called it as such. According to ancient records Khoy was a place having great importance, and was one of the branches of the Silk Road connecting east to west and passed through this city in pre-Islamic ages.

Mahabad

Mahabad lies to the south of the province and Lake Orumieh. The center of which lies 873 km. from Tehran. In its mountainous terrain it experiences cold weather, whereas in the plains it is warmer. Mahabad was formerly known as Savojbolaq Mokri. In the year 1038 AH., during the end of the reign of Shah Abbas I, Bedaqal Soltan chief of the Mokri tribe, shifted the center of his rule to Mahabad, and interesting relics of the time have survived in this city.

Maku

The township of Maku is the northwestern most region of Iran, is mountainous and beautiful. Maku is within international borders from three sides, its capital is the city of Maku, located 939 km. from Tehran. With a moderate climate and at an altitude of 1,294 m. above sea level. The city is in a semi-circular shape with the mountains sheltering it. In its primary stages, during the reign of Shah Abbas I, the city was no more than a fort dating to the year 1012 AH.

Miandoab

Located in the south west of Lake Orumieh in a fertile plains. Its capital city being Miandoab, placed at 823 km. from Tehran and to the south of the province, midst the plains. Climatically it has a moderate and somewhat humid weather. The city being engulfed by two waters such as Zarineh Rood and Simineh Rood Rivers, hence the name Miandoab (between two rivers). In this territory, various tribes have ruled.

Naqadeh

Naqadeh is in the midst of the townships of Mahabad, Piran Shahr, Oshnavieh and Orumieh, and is the axis of communications due to its position. This city had had many historical upheavals and various historical relics and vestiges have been excavated in the Hassanloo hills lying near the city which is of great importance in this area. The antiquity of these have shown to be 2000 years BC.

Various clans or tribes namely the Assyrians, Kords, Manas, and the Turks have immigrated to this vicinity and made settlements. That is till the Qarah Papaq (Black Cap) Clan immigrated to the region (during the reign of Fathali Shah) from Caucasian. This clan settled down in the vast plains of Soldooz and remaining in the region of Naqadeh cultivated wheat, rice and other agricultural products there.

Orumieh

The township of Orumieh lies between the western banks of the Lake Orumieh and the country of Turkey. The capital of which is the city of Orumieh. This city is located 951 km from Tehran and 13 km. west of Lake Orumieh on a green plain. Situated at an altitude, this territory is thereby separated from Turkey. Orumieh has cold winters and moderate summers.

The area bears ancient relics some of which date back to 2000 BC. A few historians believe that Orumieh is the birthplace of the prophet Zoroaster. Ancient geographers believe it to be the third most important city of Azarbayjan, ranking after the cities of Ardabil and Maraqeh. Ancient relics are present here, but due to historical upheavals some of these valuable evidences have been completely destroyed.

Oshnavieh

In this territory many tribes or clans such as the Lullubi, Huraiyan, Assyrians, 'Orartoie and the Medes existed in the historical ages. In an inscription related to Koorush (Cyrus the Great) it is stated that the area of Oshnoonek or Oshnavieh paid a revenue to Koorush. In Kolushir (to the south west of Oshnavieh), there is an engraving 170 cm. in height, bearing inscriptions in the two languages of Orartoie and Assyrian dating to the 8th century BC. (a decree from the Orartoie ruler of the times).

In its historical past this city had been a battlefield between the Russians and the Ottomans and there has been evidence to plenty of upheavals which has caused many damages to lives and properties of the people. After which followed famine and a devastating earthquake leaving heavy damage behind, such that the city was completely ruined, only to be reconstructed by the inhabitants.

Piran Shahr

This township was formerly known as Khaneh and due to the tribe of Piran who had their settlement within these limits, which was later on changes to Piran Shahr (the city of Pirans). Its capital city is Piran Shahr. Piran Shahr is on the border towns between Iran and Iraq, and the high mountains of Siyah Kooh and Shiphan lie respectively to the northwest and south. The River Zaab takes its source in these mountains.

Sardasht

Sardasht is situated in the southwest of the province and near the borders of Iran and Iraq. It has natural beauty and the inhabitants of this area believe Sardasht to be the birthplace of Zoroater. This area was formerly known as Zartosht, whereas after the Arab invasion to Iran, the name changed to Sardasht.

Shahindej

In the Sassanian era, 30 km. from the fire-temple of Azar Goshasb, a fort named Sa'ien Dej was constructed and was utilized by those who visited the fire-temple for worship. After the Arab attack its name was changed to Sa'ien and later on this region proved to be an accommodation for pilgrims to Karbala.

Takab

The township of Takab is one of the historical sites of the province, well worth visiting. These historical relics are from the pre-Islamic period. The famous 'Takht-e-Soleiman' castle which is 45 km. northeast of Takab, is where the large fire-temple from the Sassanian era is located known as Azar Goshasb (one of the three large fire-temples of the Sassanian periods).

The remnants of which remains within a rampant, in addition to a natural spring and a large pool. It is believed that the city of Sheez stood here, but due to the volcanic eruptions of the Zendan Mountains or for some other unknown reason, this city was turned to rubble and is no more.

Castles, West Azarbayjan

Bakhshi Castle, Orumieh

This castle is on a deformed conical shaped mountain near the coast of Lake Orumieh overlooking a green plain. To the east of the said mountain there is an inscription written in the Elamite script. In excavations made in this castle some earthenware, copper and metal vessels have been discovered. Some huge pots have also been discovered which were used at that time to bury the dead bodies in them.

Bardook Village Castle, Orumieh

This castle is 6 km. from the village of Bardook in the vicinity of Somay-e-Baradoost and has a defense rampart in three sections. The defense rampart is made of stone slabs with semi-circular columns. The entrance a square shaped doorway has been placed in the deperation of middle side of the castle. In the centeral portion of the castle the remnants of a few structures are visible. At the peak of the mountain the relic of a watch tower can also be noted.

Bastam Castle, Qarah Ziyaedin

This fort dates to 7th century BC. and is located in the village of Qarah Ziyaedin. The said fort has been constructed in three places within a duration of 50 years. Built with strong stony walls, at the top of a high rock, it overlooks the surrounding area. The fort has three storeys.

Boloor Abad Castle, Qarah Ziyaedin

This castle is on the fringes of the northern plains of Qareh Ziyaedin village. This castle is triangular in shape with an inner rectangular rampart. The width of the main rampart being 3 m. In front of the main wall, another one has been constructed having a width of one meter. At intervals, vertical walls have been constructed between the first two so as to fortify the fort.

Dom Dom Castle, Orumieh

This castle was constructed in the year 1018AH., on the Dom-Dom Mountain, 18 km. southwest of Orumieh. The castle stands at a great height and is composed of 5 sections.

Esmail Aqa Castle, Orumieh

This castle was built in the second half of the 19 century. It is located on a mountain, 18 km. west of Orumieh, on fringes of Nazloo Chay river. This castle is related to the Qajar era. The remnants of this fort consists of a crypt of stone from the Orartoie period, with regular engravings, an entrance, porticos, a gateway with a stony framework and a chamber. Besides these evidences there are ramparts and tombs belong to Safavid period.

Sang-e-Kazem Khan Castle, Orumieh

This is a rock 350 m. in height. The rock has been cut out to form a pathway right to the peak, where there is s strong sentry post with a marble doorway. This castle is in two storeys and was utilized by the household of Kazem Khan. This castle has only one door opening out on a paved road. In the 7th century AH., Hollakoo Khan renovated the structure. It is believed that Hollakoo Khan is buried here, thence known as Goor Qaleh or Grave Castle.

Siyah Castle, Maku

This castle lies 36 km. east of Maku. It is constructed on a flat land created by cooled melted material (volcanic soil). The turreted walls of the castle give it on additional beauty. This castle was a palace of one of the Orartoie kings in the 7th and 8th centuries BC. for defense purposes.

Takht-e-Soleiman Castle, Takab

The aggregate of the Takht-e-Soleiman monument is placed on a natural high land, about 20 m. above the surrounding plain. All the structural relics have been constructed within an oval shaped rampart. The exterior rampart with 5 m. thickness, 14 m. height and outer circumference of 1,200 m. has 38 conical defense towers.

The outer wall is a remnant from the Sassanian period. During the Ilkhanan reign, a new gateway had been constructed adjoined with the former southern gateway. Within the oval rampart there are two square plots, with uniaxis and different centers. In the centers of the southern square there is a lake and the northern square an ancient fire-temple respectively. Eivan-e-Khosrow is placed to the north western direction of the lake and to its southern side is Eivan-e-Garabaq-e-Khosrow. Takht-e-Soleiman was destroyed during the Roman conquest in 624 AD.

In archeological surveys around the area of the fire-temple a variety of coins, tiles and a huge copper cooking vessel (a remnant of the Islamic period), have been discovered. The Soleiman prison which consists of the remnants of a pre-historic and the Medes temple is included in this aggregate. Sites such as dormant volcanoes, thermal springs and streams around Takht-e-Soleiman are worth surveying.

Other Castles, West Azarbayjan

Other historical castles are named as Goevarchin Castle (Salmas), The Bakhdak Castle (Milan village of Miandoab), and the Ravaz Castle in Maku.

Lakes and Wetlands, West Azarbayjan

Wetlands, West Azarbayjan

The ponds and wetlands of this province cover an area of more than 700 sq. km. Some of these are 'sweet water'and some 'salty water'. A wide range of birds are provided with a natural habitat around these areas. To name a few of these wetlands:

the wetlands of Sheitan, Yaadgarloo, Joohud Abad, Jeyzar Gardeh Qeiya and Hassanloo covering an area of 1,480 hectares around Naqadeh. The wetlands of Aaq Gol, Ishq Abad, Gareh Bolaq, Sari Soo extending 5,966 hectares around Mkau. The ponds of Gareh Gol and Yeseryel Abad cover an area of 460 hectares around Miandoab.

Bukan, Mahabad, and Yusof Kandi Lakes, the stagnant water around Aras River and lake Orumieh each have beautiful aspects and landscapes and provide areas with special characteristics for birds and wildlife. A scope for fishing and hunting is also provided.

Orumieh Lake, West Azarbayjan

The province of West Azarbayjan has the largest lake of Iran in its territory, known as Lake Orumieh. This lake is at an altitude of 1,267 m. from the sea level, with a length of 130-140 km, the width being approximately 15-50 km. and at an average depth of 50-60 m. Its waters are extremely salty (twice the salinity of the oceans), consequently the lake never freezes.

From olden times, local physicians made use of the water (because of its mineral content) and coastal sludge, in treating skin diseases and rheumatoid disorders. The best season for bathing in these waters are from the end of June till the third week of August, when the lake begins getting cold.

Lake Orumieh has numerous islands, both large and small totaling to 102 in number. The most important of these being the following, Kaboodan (Qoyoon Daqi), Ashk, Espeer, and Arezoo.

Kaboodan Island: This island is one of the largest islands of the lake Orumieh, located to the east of which and covering an area of about 3,175 hectares. Its vegetation being generally short scrubs and a variety of trees bearing wild fruits and nuts. Mammals such as wild goat and wild sheep exist on this Island. It is protected by the Department of the Environment as a National Park.

Ashk Island: This island lies to the south of the Island of Kaboodan and 40 km. from the port of Golman Khaneh. This island has a 'sweet water' spring and provides a natural habitat for resident and immigrant birds. One of the rarest species of wildlife known as the 'Iranian follow deer' is found here. The Island covers and area of 2,115 hectares and its vegetation is similar to that of the Island of Kaboodan.

Espeer Island: This island covers an area of 1.151 hectares, located to the west of the Kaboodan island and 27 km. from the port of Golman Khaneh. This island provide a natural habitat for birds. The island also has one jetty. These islands have facilities for swimming and water sports.

Tribal Area and Special Villages, West Azarbayjan

Tribal Area and Special Villages, West Azarbayjan

The province of West Azarbayjan has its own special attractions regarding rural and tribal spaces or settlements. These are counted as valuable area for sight-seeing specially for tourists. Such as the rural areas of Marakan, Band, Siyah Cheshmeh, Khooshaku, Sahulan, Isa Kandi, etc., to name a few having a further attraction of wildlife present here.

The rural areas of Chanqaralu, Tamatran, Qarah Kelisa, Qatur, Chaldoran, etc., have many historical and interesting features in addition to the rural aspects.

Around the township of Mkau are settlements of the Jalali tribe. This clan is divided into two being Milan and Qezelbash tribes respectively. Tribes are on move annually from their 'summer residing quarters' to 'winter residing quarters' and vice versa during specific months.

The tribes of Piran Shahr are divided into 3 groups namely Mamesh, Mangoor, and Piran. These tribes have their own life style and move from one place to the other depending on seasonal changes.