Being a city of great antiquity, the origins of Ardabil go back to 1500
years ago. This city was the capital of Azerbaijan province in different
times, but its golden age was in the Safavid period. Neighbouring on the
Caspian Sea and the Republic of Azerbaijan, this city is of great political
and economical significance. Enjoying fertile soil and adequate
precipitation, Ardebil is an important agricultural centre in Iran. The
mineral springs of Ardebil are Beele-Darreh, Sar'eyn, Sardabeh and Booshloo,
being famous for their medicinal qualities throughout Iran. The complex of
Sheikh Safi-ad-Din-e-Ardabili is an impressive ancient monument, comprising
the following components: the mausoleums of Sheikh Safi and Shah Isma'il,
Chini khaneh (meaning the house of chinaware), a mosque, Jannat Sara
(meaning the house of paradise), Khanaqah (the house of Dervishes), Cheragh
Khaneh (the house of lamps), Shahid khaneh (the house of martyrs) and
Chelleh Khaneh (the place where devotees shut themselves up during the forty
days of Lent). The mausoleum of Sheikh Safi, the famous dome of which is
called "Allah-Allah" has an octagonal interior.
The other significant historical monuments are as follows: the mausoleum of
Sheikh Jebra'il, located 2 kms north of Ardebil, the old but always lively
bazaar, the Friday mosque, and a few ancient bridges. In addition to these,
in many villages of Ardebil, relics of ancient monuments, including tombs
have been found. Covering an area of 18011 sq kms the province of Ardebil
has been blessed with splendid natural beauty and numerous sights. This
province is bounded on the north by the Republic of Azerbaijan, on the east
by Gilan, on the south by Zanjan and on the west by the eastern Azerbaijan.
Generally, the weather of the highlands of Sabalan is cold, Ardebil city is
mild and the Moghan Plain (Dasht-e-Moghan) is warm. But the distinctive
feature of the weather in almost all parts of the province is freshness in
summer, attracting a large number of people. The Talesh mountains,
stretching southward, separate Ardebil from the Caspian region. This chain
runs northward to meet Mount Salavat Dagh and Mount Khoroosloo which are in
the south of the plateau of Moghan. Mount Sabalan and the volcanic peak of
Soltan-e-Savalan (4811 metres) are among other mountains of the province. At
the top of this volcano, having been inactive in historical times, there is
a beautiful pool encircled by snow all year round. The lush pasture and
mineral springs on the slopes of Mt. Sabalan create spectacular natural
sights. The plateau of Moghan, in the north-west of the province, runs to
the Caspian Sea. This fertile plateau is among the most important
agricultural regions in Iran.
The lakes are numerous, the largest of which are Ne'or, Shoorabil,
Shoor-Gel, Nou-Shahr and Aloocheh that are the habitats of some species of
water birds. Lake Ne'or, located in a mountainous area, 48 kms south-east of
the city of Ardebil, has splendid natural beauty. This lake, the water of
which gushes out from the springs in the bed, covers an area of 210 ha and
has an average depth of 3 metres. Lake Shoorabil located in a hilly area
south of the city of Ardebil, covers an area of 64 ha. The surface of the
lake is covered with a thin white layer of minerals, being useful for
healing skin diseases and rheumatism. Near the lake there is the leisure
complex of Shoorabil. The Araz is the largest river of the province,
originating in the mountains of the eastern Turkey, flowing along the
Iranian borders with the Republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia and emptying
into the Caspian Sea. The vast plateau of Moghan is watered by this river.
Other important rivers of the province are the Darreh-Rood, the Qara-Soo,
the Khiyav-Chay and the Namin-Chay.
The mineral springs are numerous, among which the hot springs of Sar'eyn in
Ardebil and the mineral springs of Khlkhal, Sardabeh and Booshli are of more
importance. The forested areas in Khalkhal and Ardebil are covered with
oaks, beeches, maples and hornbeams. In the mountainous region of Sabalan
and Talesh there are lush pastures which are used by villagers and pastoral
nomads for animal husbandry. Wildlife includes wolves, bears, leopards,
gazelles, mouflons, ibexes, eagles, partridges pheasants, poisonous snakes
and alligators. The majority of the people are Muslim, faithful to the
religious traditions. In some regions of the province, especially in Moghan,
where the tribes of Ilsavan and Qara Dagh live, there is tribal life. The
roads aren't always good, but they are very scenic, passing through the
forested and mountainous areas and the lush pastures, you find one splendid
view follows another during journey between different places. The cities of
Ardebil and Pars-Abab, having airports capable of handling jets, are served
by regular flights to and from Tabriz and Tehran. Fertile soil, adequate
water and the establishment of "Kesht-o-San'at-e-Moghan" comprising
agricultural, animal husbandry and industrial units, have made this province
a major centre for producing corn, fruit and meat. The said establishment,
being unique in its kind in the Middle East, utilizes modern methods,
techniques and machinery for producing and harvesting the crops, improving
the fertility of the soil and the quality of the seeds, and producing and
caring for domestic animals. This establishment also includes a sugar mill.
Wheat, barley, beet and cotton are important crops. In addition to these,
apiculture is an active industry and the honey produced in Ardebil province
has nation-wide fame. Handicrafts, such as carpet weaving, jajim (a fine
carpet made of wool or cotton) and gelim (a rug mad of goats' hair) weaving
and pottery also play a main role in the economy of the province. Mineral
resources consist of copper, limestone and sulphur. Pars-Abad
_______Sights
Edit This
ParsAbad is a good place for visiting . You can see so many places that are
historical , beautiful and natural sights . One of the most important places
that are located in ParsAbad city is Oltan fort. Oltan fort is a historical
place located near Oltan Village. The next time we will discuss more about
it. If you refer to moghanaras.com you will see some more information about
this historical place. |
