Yazd

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For the administrative subdivisions, see Yazd Province and Yazd County. For the village in Khuzestan Province, see Yazd-e Now.
Yazd
يزد

Seal
Yazd is located in Iran
Yazd
Coordinates: 31°53′50″N 54°22′04″E / 31.89722°N 54.36778°E / 31.89722; 54.36778Coordinates: 31°53′50″N 54°22′04″E / 31.89722°N 54.36778°E / 31.89722; 54.36778
Province Yazd
County Yazd
Bakhsh Central
Elevation 1,216 m (3,990 ft)
Population (2006)
 • Total 423,006
Time zone IRST (UTC+3:30)
 • Summer (DST) IRDT (UTC+4:30)
Website http://yazd.ir
The Amir Chakmak Mosque

Yazd About this sound pronunciation (help·info) (pronounced /jæzd/) (Persian: یزد‎, also Romanized as Yezd)[1] is the capital of Yazd Province in Iran, and a centre of Zoroastrian culture. The city is located 270 km southeast of Isfahan. At the 2006 census, the population was 423,006, in 114,716 families.[2]

Because of generations of adaptations to its desert surroundings, Yazd is an architecturally unique city. It is also known in Iran for the high quality of its handicrafts, especially silk weaving, and its sweet shops.

Contents

Geography [edit]

Yazd with the area of 131,551 km²[citation needed] is situated at an oasis where the Dasht-e Kavir desert and the Dasht-e Lut desert meet. The city is sometimes called "the bride of the Kavir" because of its location, in a valley between Shir Kuh, the tallest mountain in the region at 4075 m. above sea level, and Kharaneq. The city itself is located at 1203 m. above sea-level, and covers 16,000 km².

Yadz panorama from the Amir Chakmaq Complex.

According to the administrative division rules, the Yazd province is divided into 9 districts, each including at least one town and a number of villages. These districts are: Abarkuh, Ardakan, Bafq, Khatam, Maybod, Mehriz, Sadough, Taft and Yazd.

Various Yazd District
district area population cities villages
Abarkuh 5,941 75,205 2 4
Meybod 6,941 72,000 2 6
Ardakan 6,717 70,000 2 5
Bafgh 15,298 41,000 2 6
Khatam 7,931 32,000 2 4
Mehriz 6,717 74,000 1 5
Sadough 5,486 26,300 3 3
Taft 5,948 56,000 2 10
Yazd 2,397 38,900 4 4
Source:Geography Book of Yazd

The mountains [edit]

  • southern and Southern West Mountains

This mountains are widest than other groups of mountains. The most important mountain in these mountains is Shir Kuh

  • Eastern Mountains

This mountains are located in east of Yazd province and the highest mountains among this mountains are [bon lokht (3002m)] and [bajegan(2879m)].Elias

  • Northern East Mountains

These mountains are located east of Tabas. This group also includes the mountains Shir Kuh.

Climate [edit]

Yazd is the driest major city in Iran, with an average annual rainfall of only 60 millimetres (2.4 in), and also the hottest north of the Persian Gulf coast, with summer temperatures very frequently above 40 °C (104 °F) in blazing sunshine with no humidity. Even at night the temperatures in summer are rather uncomfortable. In the winter, the days remain mild and sunny, but in the morning the thin air and low cloudiness cause very cold temperatures that can sometimes fall well below 0 °C (32 °F).

Climate data for Yazd
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 27.0
(80.6)		 28.0
(82.4)		 32.0
(89.6)		 37.0
(98.6)		 41.0
(105.8)		 44.0
(111.2)		 45.0
(113)		 45.6
(114.1)		 42.0
(107.6)		 36.0
(96.8)		 30.0
(86)		 27.4
(81.3)		 45.6
(114.1)
Average high °C (°F) 12.2
(54)		 14.8
(58.6)		 19.5
(67.1)		 21.9
(71.4)		 33.4
(92.1)		 36.3
(97.3)		 39.5
(103.1)		 36.1
(97)		 35.3
(95.5)		 26.5
(79.7)		 19.3
(66.7)		 17.0
(62.6)		 25.98
(78.76)
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.1
(41.2)		 8.0
(46.4)		 13.5
(56.3)		 19.5
(67.1)		 25.4
(77.7)		 30.8
(87.4)		 32.4
(90.3)		 30.4
(86.7)		 26.1
(79)		 19.5
(67.1)		 12.1
(53.8)		 6.8
(44.2)		 19.13
(66.43)
Average low °C (°F) −0.8
(30.6)		 0.1
(32.2)		 5.3
(41.5)		 9.5
(49.1)		 17.7
(63.9)		 20.0
(68)		 23.3
(73.9)		 19.9
(67.8)		 18.7
(65.7)		 8.6
(47.5)		 2.3
(36.1)		 −0.7
(30.7)		 10.33
(50.58)
Record low °C (°F) −14
(7)		 −10.0
(14)		 −7
(19)		 0.0
(32)		 5.6
(42.1)		 11.0
(51.8)		 16.0
(60.8)		 12.0
(53.6)		 2.0
(35.6)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 −10
(14)		 −16
(3)		 −16
(3)
Precipitation mm (inches) 7.0
(0.276)		 0.8
(0.031)		 11.0
(0.433)		 21.9
(0.862)		 0.6
(0.024)		 2.0
(0.079)		 0.0
(0)		 0.0
(0)		 3.0
(0.118)		 0.0
(0)		 2.0
(0.079)		 0.0
(0)		 48.3
(1.902)
Avg. precipitation days 1 3 2 11 1 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 23
 % humidity 53 46 37 33 25 18 17 18 19 27 38 47 31.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours 181.6 203.0 207.5 230.9 293.9 334.1 340.7 335.0 313.1 278.1 217.8 193.4 3,129.1
Source #1: World Meteorological Organisation
Source #2: NOAA (extremes, mean, sun, humidity, 1961-1990) [3]

Governors [edit]

Hossain Khan, Khan Baba, Khan Sardar, and Ayatollah Khatami were born there.

History [edit]

The city has a history of over 3,000 years, dating back to the time of the Median empire, when it was known as Ysatis (or Issatis). The present city name has however been derived from Yazdegerd I, a Sassanid ruler. The city was definitely a Zoroastrian centre during Sassanid times. After the Arab Islamic conquest of Persia, many Zoroastrians fled to Yazd from neighbouring provinces. By paying a levy, Yazd remained Zoroastrian even after its conquest, and Islam only gradually became the dominant religion in the city.

Because of its remote desert location and the difficulty of approach, Yazd had remained largely immune to large battles and the destruction and ravages of war. For instance, it was a haven for those fleeing from destruction in other parts of Persia during the invasion of Genghis Khan. It was visited by Marco Polo in 1272, who remarked on the city's fine silk-weaving industry. It briefly served as the capital of the Muzaffarid Dynasty in the fourteenth century, and was unsuccessfully besieged in 1350–1351 by the Injuids under Shaikh Abu Ishaq. The Friday (or Congregation) Mosque, arguably the city's greatest architectural landmark, as well as other important buildings, date to this period. During the Qajar dynasty (18th Century AD) it was ruled by the Bakhtiari Khans.

Under the rule of the Safavis (16th century), some people migrated from Yazd and settled in an area which is today on the Iran-Afghanistan border. The settlement, which was named Yazdi, was located in what is now Farah city in the province of the same name in Afghanistan. Even today, people from the area speak with an accent very similar to that of the people of Yazd.

Marco Polo and Yazd [edit]

Here is Marco Polo writing about Yazd:

Yasdi also is properly in Persia; it is a good and noble city, and has a great amount of trade. They weave there quantities of a certain silk tissue known as Yasdi, which merchants carry into many quarters to dispose of. The people are worshippers of Mahommet.

When you leave this city to travel further, you ride for seven days over great plains, finding harbour to receive you at three places only. There are many fine woods [producing dates] upon the way, such as one can easily ride through; and in them there is great sport to be had in hunting and hawking, there being partridges and quails and abundance of other game, so that the merchants who pass that way have plenty of diversion. There are also wild asses, handsome creatures. At the end of those seven marches over the plain you come to a fine kingdom which is called Kerman.

The Travels of Marco Polo, translated by Henry Yule

Architecture and heritage [edit]

Yazd has some of the finest examples of traditional desert Persian residential architecture.
Yazd is of foremost importance as a centre of Persian architecture. Because of its climate, it has one of the largest networks of qanats in the world, and Yazdi qanat makers are considered the most skilled in Iran. To deal with the extremely hot summers, many old buildings in Yazd have magnificent windcatchers, and large underground areas. The city is also home to prime examples of yakhchals, the latter of which were used to store ice retrieved from glaciers in the nearby mountains. Yazd is also one of the largest cities built almost entirely out of adobe.

Yazd's heritage as a centre of Zoroastrianism is also important. There is a Tower of Silence on the outskirts, and the city itself has a Fire Temple, which holds a fire that has been kept alight continuously since 470 AD. Presently, Zoroastrians make up a significant minority of the population, around 20,000 - 40,000 or 5 to 10 per cent.

Built in 12th century and still being in use, Jameh mosque of Yazd is an example of finest Persian mosaics and excellent architecture. Its minarets are the highest in the country.

Historical sites in Yazd City [edit]

    Interior tile work of Jame Mosque's Dome
    Roofed lane in the old city
    • Arab-ha House
    • Malek-altojjar House
    • Lari-ha House
    • Mullah Ismall mosque
    • sahl Ibn Ali Mausoleum
    • Khan Bazaar
    • Rasoulian House
    • Sheikh Ahmad Fahadan Mausoleum
    • Seyed Rokn-al din Mausoleum
    • Seyed Shams-al din Mausoleum
    • Masoudi Reservoir
    • Malak-al Tojjar House
    • Mortaz House
    • Iran Shahr School
    • Hajj Yusef Reservoir
    • Rig mosque
    • Fort mosque
    • Shah Tahmasb mosque
    • Zargari Bazzar
    • Mortaz House
    • Fortifications of Yazd
    • Zia iah school
    • Masjid-e Jame

    Yazd Industrialization [edit]

    Always known for the quality of its silk and carpets, Yazd today is one of Iran's industrial centers for textiles. There is also a considerable ceramics and construction materials industry and unique confectionery and jewellery industries. A significant portion of the population is also employed in other industries including agriculture, dairy, metal works and machine manufacturing. There are a number of companies involved in the growing information technology industry, mainly manufacturing primary materials such as cables and connectors. Currently Yazd is the home of the largest manufacturer of fibre optics in Iran.

    Yazd's confectioneries have a tremendous following throughout Iran, which has been a source of tourism for the city. Workshops (experts or khalifehs) keep their recipes a guarded secret and there are many that have remained a private family business for many generations. Baghlava, ghotab and pashmak are the most popular sweets made in the city.

    In 2000 the Yazd Water Museum opened;[1] it features exhibits of water storage vessels and historical technologies related to water.

    Yazd has expanded its industrial fields since 1980s. With over 3 main industrial areas each containing over 70 different factories, Yazd has become one of the most technologically advanced cities of Iran. The most famous corporations include Yazd Steel, Shimi Plastic Yazd, and Yazd Polymer.

    Transportation [edit]

    In addition to its connection with major Iranian cities via railway, Yazd is served by the Shahid Sadooghi Airport.

    Uranium Mines [edit]

    Saghand uranium mines is located in the central city of Ardakan in Yazd province.

    Famous people from Yazd [edit]

    Education [edit]

    The University of Yazd was established in 1988. It has a college of Architecture specializing in traditional Persian Art and Architecture. Yazd and its nearby towns contain the following institutes of higher education:

    1. University of Yazd
    2. Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services
    3. Yazd Institute of Higher Education - ACECR
    4. Islamic Azad University of Bafq
    5. Islamic Azad University of Maybod
    6. Islamic Azad University of Yazd
    7. Yazd Sampad Information Center
    8. Yazd Science and Technology Park
    9. University of Jame Elmi_Karbordi of Yazd
    10. Imam Java University College
    11. Shahid Sadoughi High school(Tizhooshan)
    12. Shahid Sadoughi Middle school(Tizhooshan)
    13. Farzanegan Middle school(Tizhooshan)
    14. Farzanegan High school(Tizhooshan)

    Mohammad hossein papoli yazdi (shazdah hamam)

    Secondary schools in Yazd include Iranshahr High School.

    Yazd gallery [edit]

    • The Zoroastrian Fire Temple of Yazd

    • The windcatcher of "Dowlat-abad" in Yazd, is a fine example of desert Persian architecture.

    • The interior decoration of the Dolat Abad windcatcher

    • Jame-e Kabir Mosque (left) and Roknedin Mausoleum (right), Yazd.

    • The medieval Takyeh Amir Chakhmagh Mosque (night view), Yazd

    • The Zoroastrian Tower of Silence in Yazd

    • Amir Chakhmaq mosque and square

    • Old town Yazd

    • Hayat-howz Khuneh Lari Yazd.jpg
    • Gym.JPG

    • street and shelter

    • Yazd panorama

    • A badgir (windcatcher)

    • weaver

    • Aerial photograph of Yazd-1956

    Sister cities [edit]

    References [edit]

    1. ^ Yazd can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3088569" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
    2. ^ "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006)" (Excel). Islamic Republic of Iran. Archived from the original on 2010-11-16. 
    3. ^ "Yazd Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 29, 2012. 

    External links [edit]

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Yazd
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