Varzaqan Explained
| Official Name: | Varzaqan |
| Native Name: | Persian: ورزقان |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Image Map1: | | Shape-Fill-Opacity: | .1 | | Wikidata: | yes | | Zoom: | 12 | | Frame-Height: | 300 | | Stroke-Width: | 1 |
|
| Pushpin Map: | Iran |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Iran |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | East Azerbaijan |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Varzaqan |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name3: | Central |
| Population As Of: | 2016 |
| Population Total: | 5348 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | IRST |
| Utc Offset: | +3:30 |
| Coordinates: | 38.5094°N 46.65°W |
| Coordinates Footnotes: | [1] |
Varzaqan (Persian: ورزقان) is a city in the Central District of Varzaqan County, East Azerbaijan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.[2] It is also the administrative center for Ozomdel-e Jonubi Rural District.[3]
History
2024 helicopter crash
See main article: 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash. On 19 May 2024, a helicopter crash occurred about 25km (16miles) north of the city, killing Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and others.[4]
Demographics
Population
At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 3,549 in 930 households.[5] The following census in 2011 counted 5,385 people in 1,392 households.[6] The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 5,348 people in 1,401 households.[7]
Geography
Earthquakes
See main article: 2012 East Azerbaijan earthquakes.
The area is subject to earthquakes, and in 2012, a number of people were killed when an earthquake doublet (magnitude 6.4 and 6.3) struck on the afternoon of 11 August.[8]
Economy
Agriculture
Farming and gardening is the predominant occupation in the rural areas of Varzaqan. The agricultural products from the area include apple, pear, cherry, walnut and apricot fruit. Recently spruce trees have been planted as the start of a forestry industry. Cold water fish farming has been started more recently.[9]
Mining
The city is notable for the Sungun copper mine, 21.8km (13.5miles) from the city centre, which is estimated to have 3 percent of the known copper reserves in the world.
Varzaqan is a mining centre for base metal mining, as well as gold. The Sungun copper mine is now the largest copper mine in northwestern Iran. The deposit itself is one of the largest copper deposits in the world. There are nearby gold mines at Sharafabad, Hyzjan, Tshkhsrv, Astrgan, Andaryan and Myvhrvd.
Historical landmarks
The cuneiform inscription in the village of Saqandel is the most famous historical monument in the region.
See also
Notes and References
- ((OpenStreetMap contributors)). Varzaqan, Varzaqan County. OpenStreetMap. 26 February 2024. 26 February 2024 . fa.
- Web site: Approval letter regarding the abstraction of Varzaqan and Kharvana Districts from Ahar County and its transformation into Arsbaran County. fa. Islamic Parliament Research Center. https://web.archive.org/web/20130614031725/https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/121377. 14 June 2013. Ministry of Interior, Council of Ministers. Aref. Mohammad Reza. 6 December 2023.
- Web site: Creation and formation of 30 rural districts including villages, farms and places in Ahar County under East Azerbaijan province. fa. Islamic Council Research Center. https://web.archive.org/web/20101026110716/https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/108030. 26 October 2010. Ministry of Interior, Board of Ministers. Mousavi. Mirhossein. 18 May 1366. 29 November 2023.
- Web site: Live updates: Iran's president and foreign minister found dead at crash site, state media says. 20 May 2024. AP News. en.
- Web site: Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006). 03. fa. The Statistical Center of Iran. AMAR. 25 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20110920092432/http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/03.xls. Excel. 20 September 2011.
- Web site: Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011). Syracuse University. 03. fa. The Statistical Center of Iran. https://web.archive.org/web/20230116202318/https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/East-Azerbaijan.xls. 16 January 2023. 19 December 2022. Excel.
- Web site: Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016). 03. fa. The Statistical Center of Iran. AMAR. 19 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20201113123618/https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_03.xlsx. Excel. 13 November 2020.
- News: Iran earthquake relief efforts begin after 250 killed. 12 August 2012. BBC News.
- Web site: Arzyl, Ahmed Hassan Nejad (احمد حسن نژاد ارزیل). 2010. تاریخچه شهرستان ورزقان (History of Varzeqan). 11 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120821155933/http://varzegan.ershad-as.ir/?PageID=16. 21 August 2012. dead.
