| Tabriz | ||
| Iran's major cities: Tehran Shiraz Isfahan Mashhad Tabriz Pictures |
Tabriz, the capital of the province of East
Azerbaijan, Iran, lies in the extreme northwest of the country,
about 130 km (80 mi) south of the Soviet border. The population--1,088,985 (1991)--is
mostly Azerbaijani, although there is a Kurdish minority. Located at an altitude of about
1,370 m (4,495 ft) in an earthquake region, the city is said to have derived its name from
the nearby hot springs. Famous for its carpets, Tabriz manufactures textiles,
leather goods, soaps, paints, and dried fruits and nuts. A railroad connecting Tehran with Azerbaijan passes through the city, which is also a
highway junction. Landmarks include the 15th-century Blue Mosque and the citadel or Ark
(actually the 14th-century mosque of Ali Shah). The University of Azarabadegan, founded in
1949, is located there. Geology and geography have made Tabriz a victim of earthquakes (in 791, 858, 1041, 1721, and 1780) and of repeated conquests. Dating back to about the 3d century AD, the city was the capital of the Mongol khans in the 13th and early 14th centuries. In 1382, Tabriz was taken by Timur, the Turkic conqueror. Long disputed between the Ottoman and Persian empires, it became part of Persia in 1618, although the Turks occupied the city from 1721 to 1730 and the Russians from 1827 to 1828 and then from 1945 to 1946. |