See Also

Yazd

Yazd or Yezd , is the capital of Yazd province Yazd Province

Yazd is one of the 30 provinces [i] of Iran [i]. ... 

, one of the most ancient and historic cities in Iran Iran

Throughout history, Iran has been of great geostrategic [i] importance because of its centr ... 

 and a centre of Zoroastrian Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster [i] ... 

 culture. The city is located some 175 miles southeast of Isfahan, at 31.92 North, 54.37 East. In 2005 it had an estimated population of 433,836 people. In 2006 it had an estimated population of 505,037. . 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 handicrafts, especially silk Silk

Silk is a natural protein [i] fibre [i] that can be woven [i] into textile [i]s. ... 

 weaving, and its sweets shops.

Discussions

  Discussion Features

   Ask a question about 'Yazd'

   Start a new discussion about 'Yazd'

   Answer questions about 'Yazd'

   'Yazd' discussion forum


Encyclopedia


Yazd or Yezd , is the capital of Yazd province Yazd Province

Yazd is one of the 30 provinces [i] of Iran [i]. ... 

, one of the most ancient and historic cities in Iran Iran


Throughout history, Iran has been of great geostrategic [i] importance because of its centr ... 

 and a centre of Zoroastrian Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster [i] ... 

 culture. The city is located some 175 miles southeast of Isfahan, at 31.92° North, 54.37° East. In 2005 it had an estimated population of 433,836 people. In 2006 it had an estimated population of 505,037. . 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 handicrafts, especially silk Silk

Silk is a natural protein [i] fibre [i] that can be woven [i] into textile [i]s. ... 

 weaving, and its sweets shops.

Geography and Climate


Yazd is situated at an oasis Oasis

In geography [i], an oasis is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert [i], typically surrounding a spring [i] ... 

 where the Dasht-e Kavir Dasht-e Kavir

Dasht-e Kavir [i], also known as Kavir-e Namak or Great Salt Desert is a large desert lying in the mid ... 

 desert and the Dasht-e Lut Dasht-e Lut

Dasht-e Lut, also spelled Dasht-i-Lut, is a large salt desert [i] in southeastern Iran [i].
... 

 desert meet , 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.

According to the administrative division rules, the Yazd province is divided into 10 districts, each includes at least one town and a number of villages. These districts are: Abarkuh, Ardakan, Bafq, Khatam, Maybod, Mehriz, Tabas, Sadough, Taft and Yazd.

The climate is generally very dry, with cold winters and hot summers. The temperature tends to fluctuate dramatically, even between night and day, but especially summer to winter. Temperatures of 40 °C in the summer and -20 °C in the winter have been recorded.

History


The city has a 3000 year long history, dating back to the time of the Median empire Medes

The Medes were an ancient Iranian people [i], who lived in the north, western, a ... 

, when it was known as Ysatis . The present city name, however, may have been derived from Yazdegerd I, a Sassanid Sassanid Empire

The Sassanid Empire or Sassanian Empire is the name used for the fourth Iranian dynasty, and the s... 

 ruler. The city was definitely a Zoroastrian centre during Sassanid times. After the Islamic conquest of Persia, many Zoroastrians fled to Yazd from neighbouring provinces. The city remained Zoroastrian even after the conquest by paying a levy, and only gradually did Islam Islam

Islam is a monotheistic [i] religion [i] based upon the Qur'an [i], which adherents believe w ... 

 come to be 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 Persian Empire

The Persian Empire was a series of historical empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau [i] ... 

 during the invasion of Genghis Khan Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan, , was a Mongol [i] political and military leader or Khan [i] who united the Mongol tribe ... 

. It was visited by Marco Polo Marco Polo

Marco Polo was a Venetian [i] trader and explorer [i] who, together with... 

 in 1272 who remarked on the city's fine silk weaving industry. It briefly served as the capital of the Muzaffarid Dynasty in the 14th century 14th century

As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 14th century was that century [i] which lasted from ... 

, and was sieged unsuccessfully in 1350–1351 by the Injuids under Shaikh Abu Ishaq. The Friday Mosque, arguably the city's greatest architectural landmark, as well as other important buildings date to this period. During the Qajar dynasty Qajar dynasty

The Qajar dynasty was the ruling family of Persia [i] from 1781 [i] to 1925 [i].
... 

  it was ruled by the Bakhtiari Khans.

Architecture and Heritage

Yazd is of foremost importance as a centre of Persian architecture Iranian architecture

Architecture is one of the fields in which Iranians have had a lengthy involvement in history.... 

. Because of its climate, it has one of the largest networks of qanat Qanat

A qanat or kareez is a water management [i] system used to provide a reliable supply of water to h ... 

s 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 yakhchal Yakhchal

A yakh-chal is an ancient natural refrigerator.
... 

s, the latter of which were used to store ice retrieved from glaciers the nearby mountains. Yazd is also one of the largest cities built almost entirely out of adobe Adobe

Adobe is a natural building [i] material composed of sand, sand [i]y clay [i] and straw [i] or other or ... 

.

Yazd's heritage as a centre of Zoroastrianism is also important. There is a Tower of Silence Towers of Silence

The Towers of Silence are Zoroastrian [i] funerary [i] towers, the majority of wh ... 

 on the outskirts, and the city itself has a Fire Temple Fire temple

Fire Temple is a place of worship for Zoroastrian [i]s. ... 

, 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 - 40,000 or 5 to 10%.

Yazd today

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 jewelry 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 keep their recipes a guarded secret and there are many that have remained a private family business for many generations. Baghlava Baklava

Baklava or baklawa is a rich, sweet pastry [i] found in many cuisine [i]s of the Middle East [i], ... 

, ghotab and pashmak are the most popular sweets made in the city.

Famous people from Yazd


  • Mohammad Khatami Mohammad Khatami

    Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, born on September 29 [i], 1943 [i] in Ardakan [i] city of Yazd [i] province, is ... 

    , former president of Iran was born in Yazd.
  • Mohammad Reza Aref, Vice President of Iran from 2001 to 2005.
  • Moshe Katsav Moshe Katsav

    Moshe Katsav, born December 5 [i], 1945 [i]) is the current President of Israel [i]. ... 

    , President of Israel was born in Yazd.
  • Mirza Mohammad Farrokhi Yazdi, poet and politician.
  • Saeed Mortazavi, General Prosecutor of Tehran Tehran

    Tehran , population 7,160,094 , and a land area of 658 square kilometers, is the capital city of [[Iran]... 

    .
  • Mohammad Ali Sadouqi, minister in Mohammad Khatami's cabinet.
  • Mohammad Jafar Pouyandeh, Iranian dissident murdered in 1998.

Higher education in Yazd

The University of Yazd University of Yazd

University of Yazd is an Iran [i]ian university in the city of Yazd [i] in Yazd Province [i] of Iran [i] ... 

 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 University of Yazd

    University of Yazd is an Iran [i]ian university in the city of Yazd [i] in Yazd Province [i] of Iran [i] ... 

  2. Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services

    Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, is a medical school in Yazd Province [i] ... 

  3. Islamic Azad University of Bafgh


Sister cities

  • Jászberény Jászberény

    ... 

    , Hungary Hungary

    Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked [i] country in Central Europe [i], ... 



External links