Isfahan province () is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Isfahan.
The province is in the center of the country in Iran's Region 2, whose secretariat is located in Isfahan.
Isfahan Province is located along the eastern foothills of the Zagros Mountains. It covers both mountainous terrain and arid plains, contributing to its diverse climate and natural resources.
History Historians have recorded Espahan, Sepahan or Isfahan initially as a defense and military base. Historical castles were Atashgah, Sarooyieh, Tabarok, Kohan Dej, and Gard Dej. The oldest is Ghal'eh Sefeed and the grounds at Tamijan from prehistoric times. The historic village of Abyaneh, a nationwide attraction, also has Sasanian ruins and fire temples among other historical relics.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Isfahan province became the capital of Safavid Iran. While the city of Sepahan (Esfahan) was their seat of monarchical, Kashan was their place of vacation and leisure.
Demographics Language
A majority of the population speak Persian as first language with a minority of Luri, Turkic, Georgian, Biyabanaki and Armenian speakers.
During the Pahlavi era, a large group of Kurds from the Gulbaghi tribe were moved from the north of Kurdistan province to the city of Isfahan and the cities of Yazd, Kashan, and Nayin. Today, the Gulbaghi tribe are mostly assimilated elements in the population of these cities.
Population At the time of the 2006 National Census, the province's population was 4,499,327 in 1,223,684 households, with a literacy rate of 88.65 percent. The following census in 2011 counted 4,879,312 people in 1,454,162 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the province as 5,120,850 in 1,607,482 households.
Administrative divisions
The population history and structural changes of Isfahan province's administrative divisions over three consecutive censuses are shown in the following table.
+ Isfahan province Counties 2006 2011 2016 Aran and Bidgol 89,961 97,409 103,517 Ardestan 43,585 41,405 42,105 Borkhar – 108,933 122,419 Buin Miandasht – – 24,163 Chadegan 33,684 33,942 32,479 Dehaqan 34,149 34,844 34,511 Falavarjan 232,019 247,014 249,814 Faridan 81,622 79,743 49,890 Fereydunshahr 38,955 38,334 35,654 Golpayegan 82,601 87,479 90,086 Harand – – — Isfahan 1,963,315 2,174,172 2,243,249 Jarqavieh – – — Kashan 297,000 323,371 364,482 Khansar 31,542 32,423 33,049 Khomeynishahr 282,888 311,629 319,727 Khur and Biabanak – 17,793 19,761 Kuhpayeh – – — Lenjan 225,559 246,510 262,912 Meymeh and Vazvan – – — Mobarakeh 132,925 143,474 150,441 Nain 54,298 38,077 39,261 Najafabad 279,014 300,288 319,205 Natanz 43,947 42,239 43,977 Semirom 70,735 65,047 74,109 Shahinshahr 277,783 196,584 234,667 Shahreza 139,702 149,555 159,797 Tiran and Karvan 64,043 69,047 71,575 Varzaneh – – — Total 4,499,327 4,879,312 5,120,850
Cities
According to the 2016 census, 4,507,430 people (over 88% of the population of Isfahan province) live in the following cities:
City Population Abrisham 22,429 Abuzeydabad 5,976 Afus 3,696 Alavijeh 8,067 Anarak 1,903 Aran and Bidgol 65,404 Ardestan 15,744 Asgaran 4,858 Asgharabad 6,876 Badrud 14,723 Bafran 1,978 Bagh-e Bahadoran 10,279 Bagh-e Shad 4,356 Baharan Shahr 11,284 Baharestan 79,023 Barf Anbar 5,382 Barzok 4,588 Buin Miandasht 9,889 Chadegan 9,924 Chamgardan 15,574 Chermahin 13,732 Damaneh 4,366 Daran 20,078 Dastgerd 17,775 Dehaq 8,272 Dehaqan 17,945 Dizicheh 18,935 Dorcheh Piaz 47,800 Dowlatabad 40,945 Ezhiyeh 3,156 Falavarjan 37,704 Farrokhi 2,968 Fereydunshahr 13,603 Fuladshahr 88,426 Gaz 24,433 Goldasht 25,235 Golpayegan 58,936 Golshahr 9,904 Golshan 5,437 Gorgab 9,690 Guged 6,012 Habibabad 9,491 Hana 4,922 Harand 7,829 Hasanabad 4,478 Imanshahr 14,633 Isfahan 1,961,260 Jandaq 4,665 Jowsheqan-e Qali 4,181 Jowzdan 6,998 Kamu va Chugan 2,434 Karkevand 7,058 Kahriz Sang 10,442 Kashan 304,487 Kelishad va Sudarjan 25,635 Khaledabad 3,023 Khansar 21,883 Khomeynishahr 247,128 Khur 6,765 Komeshcheh 5,100 Khvorzuq 29,154 Komeh 2,305 Kuhpayeh 5,518 Kushk 13,248 Lay Bid 1,832 Mahabad 3,727 Majlesi 9,363 Manzariyeh 7,164 Meshkat 5,357 Meymeh 5,651 Mobarakeh 69,449 Mohammadabad 5,032 Nain 27,379 Najafabad 235,281 Nasrabad 6,425 Natanz 14,122 Neyasar 2,319 Nikabad 4,364 Nushabad 11,838 Pir Bakran 13,469 Qahderijan 34,226 Qahjavarestan 9,712 Qamsar 3,877 Rezvanshahr 3,606 Rozveh 4,332 Sagzi 5,063 Sedeh Lenjan 19,101 Sefidshahr 5,804 Semirom 26,942 Shahinshahr 173,329 Shapurabad 5,915 Shahreza 134,952 Sin 5,495 Talkhuncheh 9,924 Tarq Rud 1,749 Tiran 21,703 Tudeshk 4,275 Vanak 1,665 Varnamkhast 18,700 Varzaneh 12,714 Vazvan 5,952 Zarrin Shahr 55,817 Zavareh 8,320 Zayandeh Rud 9,463 Zazeran 7,962 Ziar 3,918 Zibashahr 10,200
Geography The Isfahan province covers an area of approximately 107,018 square km and is situated in the center of Iran. To its north, stand the Markazi (Central) Province and the provinces of Qom and Semnan. To its south, it is bordered by the provinces of Fars, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. Aminabad is the most southern city of Isfahan province just 2 km north of the border. To the east, it is bordered by the province of Yazd. To the west, it shares its border with the province of Lurestan and to the southwest lies the province of Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiyari.
The province experiences a moderate and dry climate on the whole, ranging between 40.6 °C (105.08 °F) and 10.6 °C (51 °F) on a cold day in the winter season. The average annual temperature has been recorded as 16.7 °C (62 °F) and the annual rainfall on average has been reported as 116.9 mm. The city of Sepahan (Esfahan) however experiences an excellent climate, with four distinct seasons.
With an elevation of 4,040 metres, the Shahankuh is the highest peak in Isfahan province. This mountain is located about 20 kilometres southwest of the city of Fereydunshahr in the western part of the province.
Isfahan province has 52 rivers, mostly small and temporary, with the exception of the Zāyanderud, which totals 405 km in length a basin area of 27,100 km2.EIr and Xavier de Planhol, "ISFAHAN i. GEOGRAPHY", Encyclopaedia Iranica, 2012. .
Biodiversity Esmaeilius isfahanensis (Farsi: کپوردندان_اصفهان) is a species of Cyprinodontid fish endemic to the Zayandehrud river basin (see genus Esmaeilius). It is known only from three sites across the province. Allium chlorotepalum is an endemic species of Isfahan province, Astragalus vernaculus is also common in the west of the province.
Modern economy Nine tons of saffron are produced by this province by the year.
It is the biggest milk and dairy producer in Iran.
High tech The state has 18k active fiber optically connected network ports as of mid 2023.
Military Iranian armed forces and the Islamic Republic military has several locations inside Isfahan province, There is also Esfahan nuclear fuel research and production center nfrpc. Hesa specializes in aerospace and helicopter maintenance and weaponry.
Tourism Bridges
Main Isfahan attractions include Shahrestan bridge Khajoo (Khaju) Bridge in Isfahan siosepol or Si-O-Se-Pol bridge Choobi Bridge (Joubi Bridge)
Cuisine
According to the Isfahan atlas, well-known local dishes include , Kachi, Kebab Golpayegan, Samanu Shahreza, Khansar, Yokhe bread (Kaak) and Semirom.
Education As of 2023, fifty thousand foreigners were studying in schools in Isfahan province.
Public universities Isfahan University of Technology Isfahan University Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Kashan University of Medical Sciences Isfahan University of Art Malek-Ashtar University of Technology University of Kashan
Islamic Azad Universities Several well-known Islamic Azad University campuses in Iran are located in the province: Islamic Azad University of Falavarjan Islamic Azad University of Meymeh Islamic Azad University of Kashan Islamic Azad University of Majlesi Islamic Azad University of Shahreza Islamic Azad University of Najafabad Islamic Azad University of Khomeynishahr Islamic Azad University of Isfahan Islamic Azad University of Khorasgan
Gallery
See also Georgians in Iran History of Iran List of the historical structures in the Isfahan province List of cities in Isfahan Province by population Ostandari Isfahan
Notes
References
Bibliography
Further reading Muliani, S. (2001) The Georgians' position in the Iranian history and civilization (Jaygah-e Gorjiha dar Tarikh va Farhang va Tammadon-e Iran) , Sepahan (Esfahan): Yekta Rahimi, M.M. (2001) The Georgians of Iran; Fereydunshahr (Gorjiha-ye Iran; Fereydunshahr), Sepahan (Esfahan): Yekta Sepiani, M. (1979) Georgian Iranians (Iranian-e Gorji), Sepahan (Esfahan): Arash Isfahan's tourist exhibition mentions the Georgians from Fereydunshahr and Fereydan. The report of this exhibition is available in the web site of the Iranian Cultural Heritage News agency. Saakashvili visited Fereydunshahr and put flowers on the graves of the Iranian Georgian martyrs' graves, showing respect towards this community.
External links
Isfahan Cultural Heritage Department Isfahan Province Department of Education