Isfahan province explained

Isfahan province should not be confused with Isfahan County.

Isfahan Province
Native Name:	Persian: استان اصفهان
Native Name Lang:	fa
Settlement Type:	Province
Map Alt:	Map of Iran with Isfahan province highlighted
Coordinates:	32.6667°N 106°W
Coordinates Footnotes:	^[1]
Subdivision Type:	Country
Subdivision Name:	Iran
Subdivision Type1:	Region
Subdivision Name1:	Region 2
Parts Type:	Counties
Parts Style:	para
P1:	28
Seat Type:	Capital
Seat:	Isfahan
Leader Title:	Governor-general
Leader Name:	Reza Mortazavi
Leader Title1:	MPs of Assembly of Experts
Leader Name1:	Abdol Mohammad Abdolahi Morteza Moghtadai Seyed Abolhasan Mahdavi Yousef Tabatabai Nejad
Leader Title2:	Representative of the Supreme Leader
Leader Name2:	Yousef Tabatabai Nejad and Saeed Hosseini (Kashan)
Unit Pref:	Metric
Area Total Km2:	107018
Population Total:	5120850
Population As Of:	2016
Population Density Km2:	auto
Blank Name Sec1:	Main language(s)
Blank Info Sec1:	Predominantly Persian. small Minority: Bakhtiari Luri, Qashqai, Georgian, Armenian languages in some regions of the province
Timezone1:	IRST
Utc Offset1:	+03:30
Blank Name Sec2:	HDI (2017)
Blank Info Sec2:	0.830^[2] · 3rd
Population Est:	5,343,000^[3]
Pop Est As Of:	2020

Isfahan province (Persian: استان اصفهان) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Isfahan.^[4]

The province is in the center of the country in Iran's Region 2,^[5] whose secretariat is located in Isfahan.

History

Historians have recorded Espahan, Sepahan or Isfahan initially as a defense and military base. The security and protection of the gradually increasing castles and fortifications, thereby, would provide the protection of residents nearby, therefore leading to the growth of large settlements nearby. These historical castles were Atashgah, Sarooyieh, Tabarok, Kohan Dej, and Gard Dej. The oldest of these is Ghal'eh Sefeed and the grounds at Tamijan from prehistoric times. The historic village of Abyaneh, a nationwide attraction, also has Sassanid ruins and fire temples among other historical relics.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Isfahan province enjoyed high standards of prosperity as it became the capital of Safavid Persia. 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.^{[6] [7]}

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.^[8] The following census in 2011 counted 4,879,312 people in 1,454,162 households.^[9] The 2016 census measured the population of the province as 5,120,850 in 1,607,482 households.^[10]

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
	89,961	97,409	103,517
	43,585	41,405	42,105
	—	108,933	122,419
Borkhar and Meymeh	277,783	—	—
	—	—	24,163
	33,684	33,942	32,479
	34,149	34,844	34,511
	232,019	247,014	249,814
	81,622	79,743	49,890
	38,955	38,334	35,654
	82,601	87,479	90,086
	—	—	—
	1,963,315	2,174,172	2,243,249
	—	—	—
	297,000	323,371	364,482
	31,542	32,423	33,049
	282,888	311,629	319,727
	—	17,793	19,761
	—	—	—
	225,559	246,510	262,912
	132,925	143,474	150,441
	54,298	38,077	39,261
	279,014	300,288	319,205
	43,947	42,239	43,977
	70,735	65,047	74,109
Shahin Shahr and Meymeh	—	196,584	234,667
	139,702	149,555	159,797
	64,043	69,047	71,575
	—	—	—
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:^[10]

City	Population
	22,429
	5,976
	3,696
	8,067
	1,903
	65,404
	15,744
	4,858
	6,876
	14,723
	1,978
	10,279
	4,356
	11,284
	79,023
	5,382
	4,588
	9,889
	9,924
	15,574
	13,732
	4,366
	20,078
	17,775
	8,272
	17,945
	18,935
	47,800
	40,945
	3,156
	37,704
	2,968
	13,603
	88,426
	24,433
	25,235
	58,936
	9,904
	5,437
	9,690
	6,012
	9,491
	4,922
	7,829
	4,478
	14,633
Isfahan	1,961,260
	4,665
	4,181
	6,998
	2,434
	7,058
	10,442
	304,487
	25,635
	3,023
	21,883
	247,128
	6,765
	5,100
	29,154
	2,305
	5,518
	13,248
	1,832
	3,727
	9,363
	7,164
	5,357
	5,651
	69,449
	5,032
	27,379
	235,281
	6,425
	14,122
	2,319
	4,364
	11,838
	13,469
	34,226
	9,712
	3,877
	3,606
	4,332
	5,063
	19,101
	5,804
	26,942
	173,329
	5,915
	134,952
	5,495
	9,924
	1,749
	21,703
	4,275
	1,665
	18,700
	12,714
	5,952
	55,817
	8,320
	9,463
	7,962
	3,918
	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 Isfahan 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.^[11]

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.^{[12] [13] [14] [15]} Allium chlorotepalum is an endemic species of Isfahan province, Astragalus vernaculus is also common in the west of the province.^{[16] [17]}

Modern economy

Nine tons of saffron are produced by this province by the year.^[18]

It is the biggest milk and dairy producer in Iran.^[19]

High tech

The state has 18k active fiber optically connected network ports as of mid 2023.^[20]

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.^{[21] [22] [23]}

Tourism

Bridges

Main Isfahan attractions include

• Shahrestan bridge
• Khajoo (Khaju) Bridge in Isfahan
• siosepol or Si-O-Se-Pol bridge
• Choobi Bridge (Joubi Bridge)^[24]

Cuisine

According to the Isfahan atlas, well-known local dishes include, Kachi, Kebab Golpayegan, Samanu Shahreza, Khansar, Yokhe bread (Kaak) and Semirom.^{[25] [26]}

Education

As of 2023, fifty thousand foreigners were studying in schools in Isfahan province.^[27]

See main article: List of Universities 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^[28]
• 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^[29]
• Islamic Azad University of Khorasgan^[30]

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

Bibliography

• Book: Eastern Persian Irak . Albert Houtum-Schindler . Albert Houtum-Schindler . London . . 1897. Province of Isfahan . 119+. 2027/mdp.39015000658461 .

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

Notes and References

1. ((OpenStreetMap contributors)) . Isfahan Province . . 23 May 2024 . 23 May 2024 . fa.
2. Web site: Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab. hdi.globaldatalab.org. en. 2018-09-13. 2018-09-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20180923120638/https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/. live.
3. Web site: توجه: تفاوت در سرجمع به دليل گرد شدن ارقام به رقم هزار مي باشد. (in Persian). Amar. September 29, 2020. August 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200803000310/https://amar.org.ir/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C/%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%B9%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D9%88-%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%B9%DB%8C%D8%AA#5581721--. live.
4. Web site: Approval of the organization and chain of citizenship of the elements and units of the national divisions of Isfahan province, centered in the city of Isfahan . fa . Lamtakam . https://web.archive.org/web/20240204010546/https://lamtakam.com/law/council_of_ministers/113034 . Ministry of Interior, Defense Political Commission of the Government Board . Habibi . Hassan . 4 February 2024 . 21 June 1369 . 4 February 2024.
5. News: 22 June 2014 . 1 Tir 1393, Jalaali. همشهری آنلاین-استان‌های کشور به ۵ منطقه تقسیم شدند (Provinces were divided into 5 regions). fa. Hamshahri Online. https://web.archive.org/web/20140623191332/http://www.hamshahrionline.ir/details/263382/Iran/-provinces. 23 June 2014. live.
6. سیاست های ایلیاتی پهلوی اول برابر گلباغی ها . 10.25098/6.3.21 . 2022 . The Scientific Journal of Cihan University – Sulaimanyia . 6 . 3 . 391–404 . Ahmadi . Mansur . free .
7. Web site: کینه رضا شاه از طوایف و عشایر گه‌لواخی/ نه گلباغی ماند اینجا نه همدانی آنجا . 8 May 1402 .
8. Web site: Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006) . 10 . fa . The Statistical Center of Iran . AMAR . 25 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110920083455/http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/10.xls . Excel . 20 September 2011.
9. Web site: Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011) . 10 . fa . The Statistical Center of Iran . Syracuse University . https://web.archive.org/web/20230117221845/https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Esfahan.xls . 17 January 2023 . 19 December 2022 . Excel.
10. Web site: Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016) . 10 . fa . The Statistical Center of Iran . AMAR . 19 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201019041954/https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_10.xlsx . Excel . 19 October 2020.
11. EIr and Xavier de Planhol, “ISFAHAN i. GEOGRAPHY,” Encyclopaedia Iranica, 2012. http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/isfahan-i-geography#1 .
12. Ghafouri. Zaniar. Keivany. Yazdan. Soofiani. Nasrollah M.. 2019-01-01. Reproductive biology of Aphanius isfahanensis in the Zayandehrud River, central Iran. Environmental Biology of Fishes. en. 102. 1. 19–25. 10.1007/s10641-018-0833-0. 2019EnvBF.102...19G . 53816219. 1573-5133. 2020-09-29. 2020-12-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20201220090412/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10641-018-0833-0. live.
13. Web site: Zicha. Ondrej. BioLib: Biological library. 2020-09-27. www.biolib.cz. 2016-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041439/http://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id326202/. live.
14. Iranian Journal of Ichthyology . زانيار. غفوري. يزدان. کيواني. نصراله. محبوبي صوفياني. March 21, 2018 . شاخص هاي تغذيه اي کپوردندان ماهي اصفهان (Aphanius isfahanensis) در رودخانه زاينده رود در ايران. Fa. 5. 3. 184–191. 2020-09-29. 2020-12-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20201220090438/https://www.sid.ir/fa/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=471688. live.
15. Web site: تنوع جمعیتی کپوردندان اصفهان (Aphanius isfahanensis). 2020-09-27. www.virascience.com. 2020-12-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20201220090414/https://www.virascience.com/thesis/799808/. live.
16. The conservation status of two Allium)Amaryllidaceae(species in Iran. 2019 . 4 . 1 . 10.22092/irn.2019.118682 . 2020-10-06. 2020-12-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20201220090415/https://irannature.areeo.ac.ir/article_118682_en.html. live. اخوان روفیگر . آزاده . باقری . علی . جم‌زاد . زیبا . جلیلی . عادل . طبیعت ایران .
17. Conservation status of endemic species Astragalus vernaculus (Fabaceae). 2020 . 4 . 6 . 10.22092/irn.2020.120810 . 2020-10-06. 2020-10-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20201008180330/https://irannature.areeo.ac.ir/article_120810_en.html. live. اخوان روفیگر . آزاده . باقری . علی . جم زاد . زیبا . جلیلی . عادل . طبیعت ایران .
18. Web site: برداشت زعفران از مزارع استان اصفهان. 2020-11-17. www.iribnews.ir. 2020-12-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20201220090438/https://www.iribnews.ir/fa/news/2914477/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA-%D8%B2%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86. live.
19. Web site: استان اصفهان؛ ستون خیمه امنیت غذایی کشور . 31 August 2022 . 1 September 2022 . 1 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220901032656/https://www.imna.ir/news/601382/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%AE%DB%8C%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%BA%D8%B0%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%B1 . live .
20. News: ۱۸ هزار پورت فیبرنوری در استان اصفهان به بهره‌برداری رسید. 2023-05-18 . www.irna.ir.
21. Web site: Isfahan xiv. MODERN ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES – Encyclopaedia Iranica . 2023-05-18 . 2023-05-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230506153622/https://iranicaonline.org/articles/isfahan-xiv-modern-economy-and-industries . live .
22. Web site: Isfahan xiv. MODERN ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES (– Encyclopaedia Iranica . 2023-05-18 . 2020-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200526223522/http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/isfahan-xiv1-modern-economy-of-the-province . live .
23. Web site: Isfahan xiv. MODERN ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES (– Encyclopaedia Iranica . 2023-05-18 . 2020-05-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200526223524/http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/isfahan-xiv2-industries-of-isfahan-city . live .
24. Web site: Isfahan Bridge - IsfahanMag. 29 June 2023.
25. Web site: آغاز تدوین اطلس غذایی استان اصفهان. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201220090408/https://www.iribnews.ir/fa/news/2851784/%D8%A2%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AA%D8%AF%D9%88%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%BA%D8%B0%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86. 2020-12-20. 2020-12-20. www.iribnews.ir.
26. Web site: تدوین اطلس غذایی استان اصفهان آغاز شد- اخبار اصفهان - اخبار استانها تسنیم - Tasnim. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201220090439/https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1399/07/20/2366713/%D8%AA%D8%AF%D9%88%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%B3-%D8%BA%D8%B0%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A2%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B4%D8%AF. 2020-12-20. 2020-12-20. خبرگزاری تسنیم - Tasnim. fa.
27. Web site: صدور ۱۸۰۰ شناسنامه برای فرزندان اتباع / ۵۳ هزار دانش‌آموز تبعه خارجی در اصفهان داریم - ایمنا . https://web.archive.org/web/20230921152238/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://www.imna.ir/news/688167/%D8%B5%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1-%DB%B1%DB%B8%DB%B0%DB%B0-%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B9-%DB%B5%DB%B3-%D9%87%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4-%D8%A2%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B2-%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%B9%D9%87 . 21 September 2023 .
28. Web site: Islamic azad university falavarjan branch . 2015-03-06 . 2015-03-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150315072513/http://iaufala.ac.ir/index.aspx?lang=2&sub=0 . live .
29. Web site: khuisf.ac.ir . khuisf.ac.ir . 2013-08-11 . 2013-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130813043733/http://www.khuisf.ac.ir/ . live .
30. Web site: Islamic Azad University Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch. en.khuisf.ac.ir. 27 March 2018. 12 February 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130212032926/http://en.khuisf.ac.ir/. live.