Karaj

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Karaj كرج
{{Location map|Iran
label = Karaj	lat =	long =	lat_deg=35	lat_min=48	lat_sec=	lat_dir=N	lon_deg=50	lon_min=58	lon_sec=	lon_dir=E	float = none	caption =	border = none	position = right	width = 250 }}
Coordinates: 35°48′N 50°58′E / 35.8, 50.967
Country	Iran
Province	Tehran
Elevation	1,312 m (4,304 ft)
Population (2005)
- Total	1,377,450
	estimate
Time zone	IRST (UTC+3:30)
Area code(s)	0261

Karaj is a city in Iran, located in Tehran province. It is situated 20 km west of Tehran, at the foot of Alborz mountains. It had an estimated population of 2,549,719 in 2005 ^[1], however the city is increasingly becoming an extension of the metropolitan Tehran.

History

A medieval Caravanserai in Karaj.

The history of Karaj dates back many centuries. The stone built Zoroastrian fire temple of Takht-e-Rostam from the Parthian era is a testament to this. The Soleimanieh palace (currently housing a college of Agriculture), the mausolum of Shahzadeh Soleiman, Imamzadeh Rahman and Zeid Palang Abad-e-Eshtehard are other historical relics of the Karaj area. During the Pahlavi dynasty era, the Morvarid Palace was constructed in nearby Mehrshahr district, designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

Karaj today

The economical base for Karaj is its proximity to Tehran, where transportation of products between the capital and the Caspian Sea is central. Chemicals, fertilizers and processed agricultural goods are also produced here. It is connected by freeway, railway to Tehran 40 km east and Qazvin 100 km northwest, and by commuter rail to Tehran subway system (Metro). Amirkabir dam and small lakes are based here. Karaj's climate is a bit cooler than Tehran and it receives 260 mm of rain annually. Karaj's major districts includes :

• Azimiyeh
• Serah e Gohardasht
• Bonyad
• Azimiyeh (Resalat - This name was changed after the 1979 revolution)
• Gohardasht (Rajaei Shahr or Rajaeishahr)
• Jahanshahr
• Mesbah
• Mehrshahr
• Mehrvila
• Shahinvila
• Dehghanvila
• Hesarak
• Mahdasht
• Fardis
• Vahdat
• Kalak & Hesar
• Islam Abad
• Golshahr
• Zibadasht
• Homayoonvila
• Shahryar
• Andisheh
• Robat Karim
• Astara
• Ghaleh Hasankhan
• Mohammad Shahr
• Shahrak-e-Khatam

Higher education and research

See also

• Morvarid Palace
• karaj city portal

Coordinates: 35°49′N, 50°58′E