West Azarbaijan Province

History

The area has been ruled by different dynasties until Medians occupied it. The area was called the little Medes during that era.

There are two opinions about the root of the word Azarbaijan :

1- Converted from Azarabadegan, meaning the land of fire, as it hosted the largest Zoroastrian fire-temple.

2- The name is rooted in the name of Atorpat, a Persian commander who resisted Alexander’s invasion and maintained the region’s independence.

Geography

The province neighbors Nakhjivan and Armenia to the north, Turkey and Iraq to the west. Internally, it neighbors to East Azarbaijan and Zanjan to the east and Kordestan province to the south.

Bazargan is the main transit border crossing between Iran and Turkey and lies in this province.

The province benefits from climate diversity and contains forests, mountains, plains, pasturelands, lakes which are habitat to diverse plant and animal species.

Climate

West Azarbaijan’s weather is influenced by a humid weather front that originated over the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean sea. During some months of the year, temperatures drop significantly with the arrival of cold weather fronts. The province mountains block some of the rainy weather systems, but the province has relatively sufficient water resources.

Spring and summer are good times for visiting most of the towns in this province. However, some tourists enjoy the winter nature of this area as well.