Rasht
|
Map of Iran and surrounding countries, showing location of Rasht |
Rasht ( رشت in Persian, also transcribed as
Resht) is the capital of
Gilan province in northwestern
Iran. It is a major trade center between
Caucasia,
Russia and Iran using the port of
Bandar-e Anzali. Rasht is also a major tourist center. Rasht had an estimated population of 560,123 in 2005.
[1]Rasht or Resht, city in northwestern Iran, capital of Gīlān Province, on a branch of the Sefid River, near the Caspian Sea. It is a commercial, distribution, and manufacturing center situated in an agricultural region. Principal products include processed food, silk, soap, and metal, glass, and jute items. Rasht (originally Gīlān) University was established in 1977. The community was probably settled in the 13th century. Rasht suffered severe damage during both World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945). Population (1996) 417,748.
Rasht is nestled between the coast of the
Caspian Sea and the slopes of the
Alborz mountain range on a branch of the Sefid River. It is situated 317 km by road north-west of
Tehran and is approximately 30 km from the Caspian Sea. Rasht is
humid, rainy, and windy. A northwest wind blows from the Caspian Sea (to the southeast). Rasht receives about 1000-1200 mm of annual
precipitation in the form of
rain. It seldom drops below freezing, and the average maximum temperature in 1996 was 20.9 degrees Celsius. Due to its fresh weather, Rasht is visted by many Iranians every year.
Gilaki is spoken by more than 3.000.000 people. The vast majority of the speakers live in the
Gilan Province of
Iran. Gilaki belongs to the northwestern branch of the
Iranian languages. The Iranian languages form a top-level constituent of the
Indo-European language family. It is closely related to
Mazanderani and is subdivided into various dialects: Rashti, Lahijani, Langerudi,etc.
Gilaki is an
oral language and has no official status in Iran.
The people speak
Gilaki, Persian,
Taleshi, and
Azeri.
Colleges and universities
*# Gilan University of Mofid
*#
University of Gilan[
2]
*# Islamic Azad University of Bandar Anzali
*# Islamic Azad University of Rasht
*#
Gilan University of Medical Sciences*# Institute of Higher Education for Academic Jihad of Rasht (موسسه آموزش عالي غيرانتفاعي جهاد دانشگاهي رشت)
For a more comprehensive treatment of the region, see the history section of Gilan. |
An old mosque in Rasht, 1886. |
Rasht was first mentioned in historical documents in 682 CE, but it is certainly older than this. It has seen the
Sassanid era, the armies of
Peter the Great and later Russian rulers, and British colonialism. The people of Rasht also played a major role in the
Constitutional Revolution of Iran.
Timeline
*
682: Rasht is first mentioned in historical documents
*
1669:
Stenka Razin, a
Cossack warlord, plundered the city
*
1722 -
1734: occupied by
Peter the Great during the
Russo-Persian War, 1722-1723*
1901: a major epidemic plague devastates the city.
*
1917 -
1920: The Russian and British armed forces fight in the port city of
Bandar-e Anzali and Rasht. The British retreat and the Russians occupy the area. In
1920 Bolshevik Russians set a great fire in the bazaar, causing many citizens to go into temporary exile.
*
1937: a revolt, sparked by the desire to collect a "road tax" from the Russians, was suppressed
*
1977: Rasht University established
*
Ebrahim Poordavood (Born in 1885)
*
Mīrzā Kūchak Khān*
Hushang Ebtehaj*
Marjane Satrapi*
Aydin Aghdashloo (Born, 1940)
*
Fazlollah Reza*
Mohammad Namjoo*
Mohammad Moin*
Arsen Minasian*
Ardeshir Mohassess*Chomarsara
*
Golsar*Karfabad
*Kharemam
*Lakaan Shahr
*Manzariyeh
*Noghredasht
*Ostadsara
*Pirsara
*Rashtian
*Sagharisazan
*
Iranian Public Satellite TV*
Gilan Province*
Some pictures from Guilan and Rasht*
Pictures at Guilan.net*
City of Rasht Information Center*
Iran Chamber Society: Rasht*
Iran Chamber of commerce, Industries & Mines: Gilan *
Encyclopedia of the Orient*
Info Please
