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| Lahijan | |
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  Lahijan
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| Coordinates: 37°12′N 50°0′E / 37.2°N 50°ECoordinates: 37°12′N 50°0′E / 37.2°N 50°E | |
| Country |  Iran |
|---|---|
| Province | Gilan Province |
| Area | |
| - Total | 1,428 km2 (551.4 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Population (2005) | |
| - Total | 61,953 |
| Time zone | Iran Standard Time (UTC+3:30) |
| Website | http://www.lahidjanshora.ir |
Lahijan (Persian: لاهيجان Lāhijān) is a city in Iran's North-Western Gilan province, on the shores of Caspian Sea and south of Langrood. It had an estimated population of 61,953 in 2005.[1]
It is historically the first town in Iran to have tea plantations. With its climate, soil quality and fresh spring water Lahijan stands to have the largest area of tea cultivation in Iran. "Lahijan Spring Tea" is the best quality tea produced in the country.
Lahijan's rice, tea, silk and cookies (culucheh) are also well-known and sold all over the country. The nearest Caspian beach to Lahijan is "Chamkhaleh Beach". Lahijan is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in Gilan. In the summer of 2006, a gondola was opened with the help of an Austrian firm. This and the “Estakhreh Lahijan” or Lake of Lahijan are major tourist attractions.
For many centuries a hallmark of the people of Lahijan was their endorsement of for the advancement of literacy and science. The Islamic Azad University of Lahijan[2] brings this endorsement into the modern age.
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History
In ancient times, Gilan region was divided to `the Caspian' and `the Golha' (flowers) subregions. Before the Iran's provincial divisions into the current state, Gilan was divided by the Sefid-Rud River into eastern and western regions. The river's eastern side called Biehpish and the western side Biehpas. At some point in time, Lahijan became the capital of Biehpish. This region has been one of Iran's major silk-producing centers as well as the country's first area for the tea-plantation set out by Prince Mohammad Mirza.
Prince Mohammad Mirza known as "Kashef-ol-Saltaneh" who was born in Lahijan was the first mayor of Tehran. As the Iranian ambassador to India under British rule, he knew the British would not allow him to learn about the secrets of tea production, as it was their biggest business in India at the time. So being fluent in French, the prince pretended to be a French laborer and started to work in the tea plantations and factories to learn how to produce tea. Ultimately his plan was to take back some samples of this tea to Iran to cultivate. He was successful in this endeavor only because of his diplomatic immunity which stopped the British from searching his secretly stashed sample. His mausoleum in Lahijan is now part of the "Iran Tea Museum".
Climate & Weather
Lahijan enjoys a climate known as "moderate Caspian." This weather pattern emerged from the influence of the currents of both the Alborz Mountains and the Caspian Sea. The Talesh Mountains are stretched in a north to south direction, and the Alborz Mountains in an east to west direction. These serve as a barrier against the humid north-west Caspian winds and withhold the penetration of wind bearing vapors towards Iran's mainland, causing heavy rainfall in Gilan during the Spring and Fall seasons.
Lahijan with a weather more favorable than the other points in the Gilan has warmer winters and cooler summers. Freezing temperatures are seldom reported in the coastal areas, however it is not odd for Lahijan to experience periods of near blizzard conditions during the winter. The amount of rainfall in Lahijan depends on the winds bearing vapor that blow from the North West in winter, from the East in spring and from the West in summer and autumn. These winds carry the vapor and humidity towards the plains causing heavy and prolonged rainfalls.
Notable People From Lahijan
- Dr. Mohammad Ali Mojtahedi Gilani - Founder of Sharif University of Technology
- Ardeshir Mohassess - Cartoonist
- Dr. Reza Radmanesh - Previous head of Tudeh Party fraction in Iran's national assembly
- Dr. Ebrahim Heshmat - Governor of Lahian in Socialist Republic of Gilan
- Mohammad Kashefol Saltaneh - Also known as Prince Mohammad Mirza, the man who introduced tea to Iran. His biography can be viewed in a reference article entitled as the First Iranian who Set Up the First Tea Plantations in Iran written by Professor Manouchehr Saadat Noury.
- Mohammad Ali Beglari - Founder of the Noosheen Koloocheh of Lahijan Company
- Hengameh - Iranian pop singer
- Hazin Lahiji - Iranian poet and scholar
- Parviz Sayyad - highly famed comedic actor of Iranian cinema
- Zahed Gilani - Grandmaster of the famed Zahediyeh Sufi Order at Lahijan
- Hassan Zia-Zarifi - Iranian intellectual and one of the founders of the communist guerrilla movement in Iran
- Ali Noroozi - journalist Responsible Manager Of ""Khorshid Nimroz"" Magezin This magazine is to arrested
his publishing the Special magazine about Peace and against the war and write the history of Metallica is an American heavy metal band and their song.
- Hushang Haddad introduced tea to Iran.
Neighborhoods and Districts
- Keshavarzi
- Khamir Kalaye
- Gharib Abad
- Amir Shahid
- Pordesar
- Shishe Garan
- Ordubazar
- Khazar
- Karegar (Shahid Rajayi)
- Andisheh
- Sareshke (Sereshke)
Places of interest
- Sheitan Koh (Devils Hill)
- Baam-e-Sabz, The Lahijan Observation Point
- Lahijan Pool (Estakhr)
- Four King Tomb (Char Padeshah)
- Golshan Bath
- Sheikh Zahed Gilani Tomb
- Shen Chal (near the village of Soostan)
- Lahijan Fresh Produce Market No.1 and No.2
- Tea Museum of Iran
- Brick Bridge (Kheshti Pol)
- Chamkhaleh Beach
- Ahrar Ropeway
- Amjadossoltan (Tomb of Farah Pahlavi(Diba)'s ancestor)
Panorama
Lahijan in an Ancient Map
For many centuries Lahijan has been one of the centers of advancement in northern Iran. This is illustrated through an ancient map such as this on. Lahijan is located a little below the center of the image. The map is inverted with the south representing the top portion of the map and the north representing the lower portion. Other famous regions such as the Caspian Sea with four islands, the provinces of Khorasan, Fars and the Alborz mountain range are also illustrated.