Māzandarān Province

Mâzandarân Province استان مازندران مازرون
Location
Info
Admin. Center:  • Coordinates:	Sari  • 36.5656° N 53.0588° E
Area :	23,701 km²
Population(2006):  • Density :	2,920,657 [1]  • 123.2/km²
No. of Counties:	15
Time zone:	UTC+3:30
Main language(s):	Tabarian (Mazanderani)[2] Persian[2]

Mazandaran Portal

Mazandaran ^[3] is a Caspian province in the north of Iran^[4]. Located on the Southern coast of the Caspian Sea, it is bordered clockwise by Golestan, Semnan and Tehran provinces (together forming Greater Mazandaran, separated from Mazandaran respectively in 1997, 1976 and 1960 ^[5]). The province also lies Qazvin and Gilan to the west. It is one of the most populous provinces by population density ^[6] and one of the most wealthy regarding diverse Natural Resources. The province's four largest counties are Sari (2006: 490830), Babol (2006: 464535), Amol (2006: 343747), and Qaemshahr (2006: 293721) (All situated on the Mid-East)^[7]. Mazandaran is known for its rich history ^[8] and diverse climate ranges from the sandy beaches to the rugged and Snowcapped Elburz mountains ^[9] with the highest peak throughout Middle-East and Western Asia, Mount Damavand ^[10]. Its diverse geography is not limited to mountains and beaches, but also includes plains, prairies, forests and jungles between Caspian sea and Elburz Sierra ^[11] which at the narrowest point (Nowshahr County) are not more than 6 miles far away. Economy of Mazandaran relies heavily on agriculture and dish productions ^[8], with the highest farm fish production throughout Iran and the neighbor regions ^[12], Moreover, Tourism industry, with millions of tourists a year enjoy visiting it ^[13]. Discoveries in the caves of Behshahr county suggest human habitation of the area as early as 75,000 years ago ^[14][15], Moreover recent excavations in Goher Tippe, which gives an evidence to the existence of urbanization phase of civilization for more than 5 millennium years, it is one of the most important historical sites of Iran ^[16] and has played an important role in cultural flourishing and urban development of the region. ^[17] Mazandaran was part of the ancient kingdom of Hyrcania ^[18] and former Kingdom of Tapuria. ^[19][20] Indigenous people of the region are ethnic Mazandaranis (Tapurians) ^[21], a people who speak Mazanderani, a Caspian language which most resembles Gilaki and Sangiseri.

Abbas Abad lake, near Behshahr.

Mazandaran, a small province with various landscapes.

History

See Also:History of Tapuria

Achaemenid Golden cup. Dated first half of first millennium. Excavated at Kalardasht in Mazandaran.

Typical architecture of Mazandaran, Rostamkola, Behshahr.

Pre Islamic History

The province is known to have been populated from early antiquity, and Mazandaran has changed hands among various dynasties from early in its history. Under the Achaemenids, it seems to have been administered as a sub-province of Parthia and is not named separately in the provincial lists of Darius and Xerxes. There are several fortresses remaining from Parthian and Sassanid times, and many older cemeteries scattered throughout the province. During this era, Mazandaran was part of Hyrcania Province which was one of important provinces. With the advent of the Sassanid dynasty, the King of Mazandaran (Tabaristan and Padashkhwargar) was Gushnasp^[22] , whose ancestors had reigned in the area (under the Parthian empire) since the time of Alexandar. In 529-536 Mazandarn was ruled by Sassanid prince Kawus son of Kawadh^[22]. Anushirawan, the Sassanid king, put in his place Zarmihr, who claimed his ancestry from the legendary blacksmith Kaveh^[22]. This dynasty ruled till 645 A.D., when Gil Gawbara (a descendant of the Sassanid king Jamasp and a son of Piruz) joined Mazandaran to Gilan^[22]. These families had descendants who ruled during the Islamic period.

Post Islamic History

During the post-Islamic period the local dynasties fall into three classes: 1. local families of pre-Islamic origin, 2. the ʿAlid sayyid s, and 3. local families of secondary importance^[22]. The Bawandids who claimed descent from Kawus provided three dynasties^[22]. The first dynasty (665-1007) was overthrown on the conquest of Tabaristan by the Ziyarid Kabus b. Wushmgir^[22]. The second dynasty reigned from 466/1073 to 606/1210 when Mazandaran was conquered by 'Ala al-Din Muhammad Khwarzamshah^[22]. The third ruled from 635/1237 to 750/1349 as vassals of the Mongols^[22]. The last representative of the Bawandids was killed by Afrasiyab Chulawi^[22]. The Karinids claimed descent from Karin, brother of Zarmihr who was the pre-Islamic ruler under the Sassanids^[22]. Their last representative Mazyar was put to death in 224/839^[22]). Province also lies Qazvin and Gilan to the west. Mazandaran province is geographically divided into two parts: the coastal plains, and the mountainous areas. The Alborz Mountain Range surrounds the coastal strip and plains of the Caspian Sea like a huge barrier. There is often snowfall during most of the seasons in the Alborz regions, which run parallel to the Caspian Sea's southern coast, dividing the province into many isolated valleys. The province enjoys a moderate, semitropical climate with an average temperature of 25 °C in summer and about 8 °C in winter. Although snow may fall heavily in the mountains in winter, it rarely falls around sea lines.

Population

The population of the province has been steadily growing during the last 50 years. The following table shows the approximate province population, excluding the Golestan province, which has separated as an independent province in 1998 [7].

Peyvandi district, Sari.

Administrative Divisions

The province covers an area of 46,656 km². According to the census of 1996, the population of the province was 2,602,008 of which 45.89% were registered as urban dwellers, 54.1% villagers, and remaining were non-residents. Sari is the capital city of the province. Mazandaran is divided into 15 shahrestans (approximately equal to counties). All the shahrestans are named after their administrative center, except Savadkooh. The following map shows the respective positions of the shahrestans.

Namak Abrud resort, near Chalus

Transportation

Mazandaran is connected to the capital of Iran, Tehran, through three transit roads of Haraz (Amol-Rudehen), Kandovan (Chalus-Karaj), and Firouzkouh (Qaem Shahr-Firouzkouh), while Sari, Nowshahr and Ramsar airports connect it to the other parts of the country.

Main transport routes in Mazandaran (Click to see a larger version)

Culture

The culture of Mazandaran is closely related to that of neighboring Gilan (or Guilan) and similarities between the two are abundant. The peoples of the two provinces are largely secular or irreligious, and consequently women have had greater social freedom and independence than their Persian cousins. (Reference: "The Soviet Socialist Republic of Iran, 1920-1921: Birth of the Trauma" by Cosroe Chaqueri.) The cuisine of the province is very rich in seafood due to the Caspian Sea, and rice is present in virtually every meal. Indeed, the rest of Iran was introduced to rice through Gilan and Mazandaran. Before the 1800s, Persians, Kurds, and other Iranian ethnic groups used bread rather than rice as an accompaniment to their meals, though bread remains a prominent staple among them. While bread remains very popular among those groups, in Gilan and Mazandaran, rice remains the choice staple of the indigenous inhabitants.

Language

1978 Iranian stamps showing traditional dressing of people of Mazandaran

Main article: Mazandarani Language

Mazanderani or Tabarian (Avestan:Vernan, Pahlavi:Tapari]]) is Northwestern Iranian language. Various Mazandarani's dialects exist which are spoken in Mazandaran province and the neighbour province Golestan such as Mazanderani, and Gorgani. Also, Qadikolahi (Ghadikolahi) and Palani may be dialects. Mazandarani mostly resemble Gilaki. Todays, Mazandaranis also use Persian (Western Persian). The educated can communicate and read Persian well^[23].

In Literature

A region called Mazandaran is mentioned frequently in Persian epic Shahnameh, it is an area in north of Iran which is mostly inhabited by Div (demons). The legendary Iranian Shah Kaykavoos as well as the Iranian hero Rostam each take turn to go to Mazandaran in order to battle the demons. A famous verse from Shahnameh is when Zal tells Kai Kavoos: شنیدم یکی نو سخن بس گران ..........که شه دارد آهنگ مازندران "I heard troubling news that the king is planning to go to Mazandaran"

Temperate rainforest on the northern slopes of the Alborz mountain ranges

However, this Mazandaran is not considered identical to the modern province of Mazandaran, and is instead a land to the west of Iran. The current province was simply considered a part of Tabaristan; the name Mazandaran is a later development, perhaps based upon local terminology^[24].

Significant natives of Mazandaran

See Also List of Mazandaranis.

Mazandaran has been home to many significant Iranian figures. These range from scholars and poets to politicians and actors. Of the most notable Mazandaranian figure is Reza Shah Pahlavi who was born in Alasht, Savad Kooh, Mazandaran in 1877. Reza Pahlavi became the Iranian Shah from 1925 until 1941, when he was forced to relinquish his throne to his son. Notable Mazandaranian poets include the modernist poet Nima Yooshij, the great late contemporary poet of Iran who was born in Yush, Mazandaran. Mírzá `Abbás Núrí, father of Mirzá Husayan-Alí Núrí, known as Bahá'u'lláh, founder of the Bahá'í Faith, is a native of Núr (Noor) in Mazandaran. Interesting note: Being formerly part of the kingdom of Taparia or Tabaristan, two famous 9th-century Mazandarani scholars are from Mazandaran, both commonly called "al-Tabari" (An Arabic term meaning simply "from Taparia").

Mazandaran today

Economy

Rice, grain, fruits, cotton, tea, tobacco, sugarcane, and silk are produced in the lowland strip along the Caspian shore. Oil wealth has stimulated industries in food processing, cement, textiles, cotton, and fishing (caviar).

A typical beach house in Mazandaran, near coast of Caspian sea.

Suitable environmental conditions, pleasant and moderate climate, beautiful natural landscapes, and proximity to Tehran, have led the province to be one of the main recreational and tourism areas of Iran. Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization lists close to 630 sites of historical and cultural significance, hence a wealth of tourist attractions.

Colleges and universities

1. Babol University of Medical Sciences
2. Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences
3. University of Mazandaran
4. Behshahr University of Science and Technology
5. Islamic Azad University of Neka
6. Islamic Azad University of Sari
7. Islamic Azad University of Tonekabon
8. Islamic Azad University of Babol
9. Islamic Azad University of Amol
10. Imam Khomeini University for Naval Sciences
11. Shomal University

See also

• Mazandarani people
• Maziar

References

1. ^ Iranian 2006 Census Website [1] (in Persian)
2. ^ ^{a b} [2] Maryam Borjian - Bilingualism in Mazandaran: Peaceful Coexistence With Persian.
3. ^ Based on Maz or Mazan Term: Mazandarani: مازرون Māzerūn, Persian: مازندران, Russian: Мазендириновская.
   Based on Tapur Term: English: Tapuria, Arabic: Tabaristan, from Persian: Taparistan, itself from Pahlavi: Tapuristan
   Mazandarani:Tapurana.(not prevalent)
   Ancient Greek: Hyrcania comed from Local name Vergana (Persian Gorgan), See Hyrcania, Caspia from local name Kaspi, See Caspian Sea.
   Avestan: Hverkana, and Verna.
   Firdawsi called Plainy regions as Gilan, and Mountainous regions as Mazandaran
   Note: It was also known as: Al-Jannat meaning paradise by arabs during 7-8th centuries, in early 20th century of Iran when Reza Shah boosts the connection of northern Elbourz to the southern slopes by constructing 6 new roads and railway, the provinces of Mazandaran and Gilan becomed to known as Shomal from persians, meaning the North in arabic, but Mazandaranis object this nonsense term.
4. ^ Keddie, N. R.; 1968; The Iranian villages before and after land reform. Journal of Contemporary History, 3(3), 69-78.
5. ^ Gwillim Law, Statoids website. "Provinces of Iran". Retrieved on 28 August 2007; see also Provinces of Iran
6. ^ Statistical Centre, Government of Iran. See: "General Characteristics of Ostans according to their administrative divisions at the end of 1383 (2005 CE)", "Population estimation by urban and rural areas, 2005"
7. ^ Iranian 2006 Census Website, Information File (in Persian)
8. ^ ^{a b} Encyclopedia Britannica, Entry for Mazandaran
9. ^ Mazandaran, Geography & History
10. ^ Encyclopedia Britannica, Entry for Elburz
11. ^ Springer Netherlands; July 10, 2005; Contributions to the knowledge of the useful plants and plant raw materials of Iran; ISSN 0921-9668
12. ^ Freshwater Fishes of Iran; Revised: 12 July 2007
13. ^ [3] (Persian)
14. ^ Mazandaran setting up Iran's first cave museum; London; Saturday, July 22, 2006 by IranMania
15. ^ [4]
16. ^ Parthia News, 2005, November 6.
17. ^ Payvand, 400 Historical Sites Discovered within 7 Days in Mazandaran
18. ^ [5]
19. ^ Iran Chamber Society, Provinces of Iran:Province of Mazandaran
20. ^ [6]
21. ^ CHN Page for Mazandaran
22. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} Minorsky, V.; Vasmer, R. "Mazandaran" Encyclopaedia of Islam. Edited by: P. Bearman , Th. Bianquis , C.E. Bosworth , E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill, 2007. Brill Online.
23. ^
24. ^ http://www.iranchamber.com/geography/articles/ancient_iran_geographical_position_shahnameh.php

External links

Mazandaran Portal

• Official website of Mazandaran Governorship
• ICCIM's page on Mazandaran
• Mazandaran Cultural Heritage Organization
• Mazandaran Tourism palaces
• Official website of Mazandaran Meteorology Organization

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