Khuzestan Province

Iran / Khuzestan / Shushtar /
 province, first-level administrative division, draw only border
Khuzestan (Persian: خوزستان, Khūzestān) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran, located in the southwestern part of the country. It borders Ilam and Lorestan provinces in the north, Iraq in the west, Persian Gulf and Bushehr province in the south, and Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Isfahan provinces in the east. Khuzestan covers an area of 64,055 km² and has a population of 4,345,607 (2005). Its capital is Ahvaz; other major cities include Behbahan, Abadan, Andimeshk, Khorramshahr, Bandar Imam, Dezful, Shushtar, Omidiyeh, Mah Shahr, Ramhormoz, Shadegan, Susa and Masjed Soleiman.

The province of Khuzestan can be divided into two regions, the plains regions and mountainous regions. The former is located in the south and west of the the province and is irrigated by the Karun, Karkheh and Jarahi rivers, contributing to the fertility of this region. The mountainous regions are situated to the north and east of the province, and are considered to be a part of the southern regions of the Zagros mountain range. Karun, Iran's largest river, 850 kilometers long, flows into the Persian Gulf through this province. The climate of Khuzestan is generally hot and humid, particularly in the south, while winters are much more pleasant and dry.

Khuzestan, like many other provinces in Iran, is inhabited by a combination of different people with diverse ethnic backgrounds, Persians in major cities, Iranian Arabs, the Bakhtiari, Mizrahi Jews, Laks, and Lurs of the north and the Turkic-speaking Qashqai and Afshari tribes all contribute to the population of this province.

The abundance of water and fertility of soil have transformed this region into a rich and well-endowed land. The variety of agricultural products such as wheat, barley, oily seeds, rice, eucalyptus and medical herbs, the existence of many palm and citrus farms and of course sugar cane all show the great potential of this fertile plain. The abundance of water supplies, rivers, and dams, also have an influence on the fishery industries, which are prevalent in the area. It is also the major oil-producing region of Iran.

Khuzestan has more than 140 sites of historical and cultural significance, listed by Iran National Heritage Organization. Some of the more popular sites of attraction include:

- Choqa Zanbil: The seat of the Elamite Empire, this ziggurat is a magnificent five-story temple that is one of the greatest ancient monuments in the Middle-East standing today. The monolith, with its labyrinthine walls made of thousands of large bricks with Elamite inscription, manifest the sheer antiquity of the shrine. The temple was religiously sacred and built in the honor of Inshushinak, the protector deity of the city of Susa.

- Shush-Daniel: Burial site of the Jewish prophet Daniel. He is said to have died in Susa on his way to Jerusalem upon the order of Darius. The grave of Ya'qub bin Laith as-Saffar, who rose against the oppression of the Umayyad Caliphate, is also located nearby.

- Shushtar: One of the oldest fortress cities in Iran, known as the "City of Forty Elders" in local dialect. The Friday Mosque of Shushtar was built by the Abbasids. The mosque, which features "Roman" arches, has 54 pillars and balconies.

- Kharezad Bridge: One of the strangest bridges of the world, is situated in Izeh and was named after Ardeshir Babakan's mother. It is built over casted pillars of lead each 104 meters high.

- Masjed Soleiman: An ancient town, with ancient fire altars and temples such as Sar-masjed and Bard-neshondeh. It is also where William Knox D'Arcy dug Iran's first oil well.

- Iwan of Hermes, and Iwan of Karkheh: Two enigmatic ruins north of Susa.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khuzestan_Province
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   31°30'40"N   49°1'27"E

Comments

  • Polygon by shbn.
  • Photos 5-6 are from http://kheyrabadebehbahan.blogfa.com/cat-5.aspx.
  • Photos from: 1- Wikipedia by User:Zereshk 2- Wikipedia by User:Zereshk 3- Wikipedia by Mohammad Hesamian 4- Wikipedia by User:Zereshk 5- http://kheyrabadebehbahan.blogfa.com/cat-5.aspx. 6- http://kheyrabadebehbahan.blogfa.com/cat-5.aspx. 7- Wikipedia by User:Zereshk
  • have a look at historical sites of: (Susa or Shosh), (Shushtar watermills), (Haft Tappe or Seven Hills), (Choghazanbil) please...
  • Historically Khuzestan is what historians refer to as ancient Elam, whose capital was in Susa. The Achaemenid Old Persian term for Elam was Hujiyā, which is present in the modern name...
  • Dont forget to go and have a look at Masjed-e-soleyman and Izeh(Kol-Farah and Eshkaft-e-Salman)please.
  • this land belonge to arab it is al ahwaz
  • Arab land is Arabian desert dear Omar not here!
  • this land belonge to arab when iranian was in Central Asia desert grandfather of arab prophet ibramam born in iraq before 4000 years
  • Arabs originaly came from Saudi Ariabian Desert not here, you should study more..
  • arab is originaly come from iraq and yamen then some of arab live in Mecca and Medina and iranian come from desert of Central Asia u go Read history
  • my dear how say you iranians come from desert of Central Asia ? you now people of iran is three part west(mad) north and west(part or pars or fars) and east . the west is mad are kord of iran and others ahvaze-ilam-bodhehr-kermansha-hamedan is part of Eillam ancent that have war with ashur and boble north of current iraq and anbar and bahrain too part of iran if u say ahvaze is arabic
  • my dear How say you iranians come from desert of Central Asia ? you Know ! people of iran is three part west(mad) north and center(part or pars or fars) and east . the west is mad are kord and lor and ... and ahvaze-ilam-boshehr-kermansha-hamedan is part of Eillam ancent that have war with ashur and boble(iraq) in the age of emam ali anbar was part city (in current iraq) was irannian city with iranian people of north of current iraq and anbar and bahrain too part of iran if u say ahvaze is arabic
  • Al Ahwaz Occupied land
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