Northern Iran (), is a geographical term that refers to a relatively large and fertile area, consisting of the southern border of the Caspian Sea and the Alborz mountains.
It includes the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan (ancient kingdom of Hyrcania, medieval region of Tabaristan). The major provinces, Gilan and Mazandaran, are covered with dense forests, snow-covered mountains and impressive sea shores.
The major cities are Rasht, Gorgan, Sâri, Babol, Babolsar Amol, Qaem Shahr, Gonbad-e Kavus, Bandar-e Anzali, Lahijan and Behshahr. Northern Iran has numerous villages, particularly Masouleh, appreciated by travellers.
Northern Iran was a trendy spot during the Pahlavi era, especially among foreign tourists. It was a luxurious place that provided all types of modern recreational facilities as well as tourism infrastructure. Today, it's mostly visited by Domestic tourism.
The total population of the 3 provinces according to 2016 census was 7,683,097 people, with 2,486,429 households.
+ Population figures for cities in northern Iran | |||
Rasht | Gilan | 679,995 | 228,142 |
Gorgan | Golestan | 350,676 | 111,099 |
Sari | Mazandaran | 309,820 | 101,932 |
Babol | Mazandaran | 250,217 | 81,572 |
Amol | Mazandaran | 237,528 | 78,597 |
Qaem Shahr | Mazandaran | 204,953 | 68,407 |
Gonbad-e Kavus | Golestan | 151,910 | 44,731 |
Bandar-e Anzali | Gilan | 118,564 | 41,053 |
Lahijan | Gilan | 101,073 | 34,497 |
Behshahr | Mazandaran | 94,702 | 31,022 |
Langarud | Gilan | 79,495 | 27,318 |
Chalus | Mazandaran | 65,196 | 22,166 |
Neka | Mazandaran | 60,991 | 19,357 |
Babolsar | Mazandaran | 59,966 | 19,576 |
Tonekabon | Mazandaran | 55,434 | 18,878 |
Tālesh(Hashtpar) | Gilan | 54,178 | 16,832 |
Bandar Torkaman | Golestan | 53,970 | 14,512 |
Aliabad-e Katul | Golestan | 52,838 | 16,655 |
Astara | Gilan | 51,579 | 16,696 |
Nowshahr | Mazandaran | 49,403 | 16,287 |
Sowme'eh Sara | Gilan | 47,083 | 15,331 |
Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh | Gilan | 44,941 | 15,675 |
Azadshahr | Golestan | 43,760 | 13,206 |
Kordkuy | Golestan | 39,881 | 12,971 |
Fereydunkenar | Mazandaran | 38,154 | 12,606 |
Rudsar | Gilan | 37,998 | 13,191 |
Kalaleh | Golestan | 36,176 | 10,346 |
Ramsar | Mazandaran | 35,997 | 12,153 |
Fuman | Gilan | 35,841 | 11,849 |
Aqqala | Golestan | 35,116 | 9,498 |
Juybar | Mazandaran | 32,924 | 10,480 |
Mahmudabad | Mazandaran | 31,844 | 10,399 |
Amirkola | Mazandaran | 30,478 | 10,120 |
Minudasht | Golestan | 30,085 | 8,980 |
Nur | Mazandaran | 26,947 | 8,597 |
Galikesh | Golestan | 23,394 | 6,996 |
Galugah | Mazandaran | 21,352 | 6,898 |
Khomam | Gilan | 20,897 | 7,143 |
Bandar-e Gaz | Golestan | 20,742 | 6,715 |
Ketalem and Sadat Shahr | Mazandaran | 20,716 | 7,163 |
Siahkal | Gilan | 19,924 | 6,796 |
Rezvanshahr | Gilan | 19,519 | 6,212 |
Fazelabad | Golestan | 19,461 | 5,869 |
Gomishan | Golestan | 19,191 | 5,129 |
Masal | Gilan | 17,901 | 5,330 |
Siminshahr | Golestan | 17,205 | 4,493 |
Zirab | Mazandaran | 16,191 | 5,037 |
Manjil | Gilan | 15,630 | 4,950 |
Amlash | Gilan | 15,444 | 5,268 |
Kiashahr | Gilan | 14,022 | 5,037 |
Rostamabad | Gilan | 13,746 | 4,312 |
Abbasabad | Mazandaran | 13,482 | 4,500 |
Kelardasht | Mazandaran | 13,401 | 4,565 |
Lowshan | Gilan | 13,032 | 3,958 |
Sangar | Gilan | 12,583 | 4,288 |
Ramian | Golestan | 12,426 | 3,772 |
Kelachay | Gilan | 12,379 | 4,329 |
Rostamkola | Mazandaran | 11,686 | 3,979 |
Khorramabad | Mazandaran | 11,542 | 3,902 |
Shirud | Mazandaran | 11,377 | 3,851 |
Lavandevil | Gilan | 11,235 | 3,318 |
Chamestan | Mazandaran | 11,194 | 3,492 |
Khalil Shahr | Mazandaran | 11,032 | 3,298 |
Khan Bebin | Golestan | 10,878 | 3,328 |
Asalem | Gilan | 10,720 | 3,271 |
Rahimabad | Gilan | 10,571 | 3,507 |
Lasht-e Nesha | Gilan | 10,539 | 3,742 |
Rudbar | Gilan | 10,504 | 3,559 |
Hachirud | Mazandaran | 10,398 | 3,471 |
Arateh | Mazandaran | 10,327 | 3,301 |
Kuchesfahan | Gilan | 10,026 | 3,450 |
Salman Shahr | Mazandaran | 9,656 | 3,057 |
Surak | Mazandaran | 9,208 | 3,087 |
Chaf and Chamkhaleh | Gilan | 8,840 | 3,137 |
Shirgah | Mazandaran | 8,671 | 2,869 |
Maraveh Tappeh | Golestan | 8,671 | 2,072 |
Pol-e Sefid | Mazandaran | 8,294 | 2,680 |
Chaboksar | Gilan | 8,224 | 2,750 |
Shaft | Gilan | 8,184 | 2,691 |
Daland | Golestan | 8,184 | 2,453 |
Neginshahr | Golestan | 8,138 | 2,344 |
Kiakola | Mazandaran | 8,040 | 2,691 |
Pareh Sar | Gilan | 8,016 | 2,536 |
Bahnemir | Mazandaran | 7,906 | 2,541 |
Hadishahr | Mazandaran | 7,889 | 2,549 |
Ruyan | Mazandaran | 7,731 | 2,461 |
Izadshahr | Mazandaran | 7,439 | 2,514 |
Luleman | Gilan | 7,426 | 2,677 |
Gatab | Mazandaran | 7,374 | 2,340 |
Khoshk-e Bijar | Gilan | 7,245 | 2,470 |
Anbar Olum | Golestan | 7,003 | 1,960 |
Galugah, Babol | Mazandaran | 6,908 | 2,138 |
Marjaghal | Gilan | 6,735 | 2,244 |
Sorkhrud | Mazandaran | 6,699 | 2,248 |
Marzanabad | Mazandaran | 6,698 | 1,841 |
Now Kandeh | Golestan | 6,650 | 2,316 |
Kumeleh | Gilan | 6,457 | 2,255 |
Nashtarud | Mazandaran | 6,394 | 2,109 |
Kelarabad | Mazandaran | 6,267 | 2,099 |
Faraghi | Golestan | 5,777 | 1,610 |
Emamzadeh Abdollah | Mazandaran | 5,768 | 1,809 |
Khush Rudpey | Mazandaran | 5,742 | 1,906 |
Dowzeyn | Golestan | 5,737 | 1,681 |
Bazar Jomeh | Gilan | 5,729 | 1,762 |
Korand | Golestan | 5,616 | 1,530 |
Chubar | Gilan | 5,554 | 1,604 |
Pir Bazar | Gilan | 5,373 | 1,761 |
Shalman | Gilan | 5,102 | 1,855 |
Gurab Zarmikh | Gilan | 4,840 | 1,610 |
Alqajar | Golestan | 4,780 | 1,428 |
Vajargah | Gilan | 4,537 | 1,563 |
Babakan | Mazandaran | 4,499 | 1,462 |
Haviq | Gilan | 4,261 | 1,169 |
Sangdevin | Golestan | 4,203 | 1,255 |
Mazraeh | Golestan | 4,009 | 1,352 |
Zargar | Mazandaran | 3,991 | 1,311 |
Yanqaq | Golestan | 3,919 | 1,143 |
Si Joval | Golestan | 3,747 | 976 |
Lisar | Gilan | 3,647 | 1,163 |
Ziabar | Gilan | 3,603 | 1,193 |
Rudboneh | Gilan | 3,441 | 1,220 |
Kiasar | Mazandaran | 3,384 | 1,084 |
Pul | Mazandaran | 3,150 | 1,064 |
Kojur | Mazandaran | 3,120 | 1,052 |
Chukam | Gilan | 3,096 | 1,019 |
Now Deh Khanduz | Golestan | 2,989 | 959 |
Incheh Borun | Golestan | 2,494 | 593 |
Jirandeh | Gilan | 2,320 | 791 |
Kuhi Kheyl | Mazandaran | 2,242 | 736 |
Farahabad | Mazandaran | 2,217 | 762 |
Rankuh | Gilan | 2,154 | 749 |
Ahmadsargurab | Gilan | 2,128 | 727 |
Tabaqdeh | Mazandaran | 2,023 | 723 |
Otaqvar | Gilan | 1,938 | 662 |
Dabudasht | Mazandaran | 1,758 | 572 |
Deylaman | Gilan | 1,729 | 564 |
Maklavan | Gilan | 1,635 | 536 |
Barehsar | Gilan | 1,612 | 559 |
Sadeqabad | Golestan | 1,593 | 488 |
Tutkabon | Gilan | 1,510 | 493 |
Akand | Mazandaran | 1,416 | 485 |
Alasht | Mazandaran | 1,193 | 436 |
Taher Gurab | Gilan | 1,168 | 396 |
Rineh | Mazandaran | 982 | 352 |
Baladeh | Mazandaran | 970 | 353 |
Pain Hular | Mazandaran | 956 | 332 |
Marzikola | Mazandaran | 868 | 301 |
Masuleh | Gilan | 393 | 147 |
Farim | Mazandaran | 369 | 127 |
Gazanak | Mazandaran | 319 | 103 |
From the northeast, Khorasan which is a large province laid out from the north to the middle south of Iran and is a neighbor to the Afghanistan border. The language from the north to the south of this province changes drastically, In the north of Khorāsan people speak “ Ghaz Turkish” going from the north to the middle of the province, the dialect changes to some sort of Arabic which belonged to an old Iraqi Arabic language. This language has been mixed drastically with Persian language which makes it impossible for an Arab speaker to understand it. There are some Kurdish speakers in the north of khorāsan as well.
From the north of Iran heading to the west, the next province is Golestān which has its own diversity in languages. until 1997 Golestān was a part of Māzandarān province. The main languages from the east to the west in this province are Turkmen, Turkish and then Māzandarāni which is among the oldest written languages of the country. Māzandarāni
Māzandarān is the neighboring province which has the language of Māzandarāni all over the province which has over tens of different dialects in different regions., almost all of them are sub categories of Māzandarāni. Native people of Māzandarān call themselves Tabari and their Mazanderani language . The name Tapuri / Tabari (which was the name of an ancient language spoken somewhere in former Tapuria) is now used in preference to the name Mazandarani by the young. The earliest references to the language of Mazandaran, called Tabari, are to be found in the works of the early Muslim geographers. Al-Maqdisi (or Moqaisi, 10th century), for example, notes: "The languages of Komish and Gorgan are similar, they use hā, as in hā-dih and hāk-un, and they are sweet to, related to them is the language of Tabaristan, similar save for its speediness."
The next province is Gilan Province, people of Gil ān have three major languages: Gilaki language , Rudbāri and Talysh language with some other old languages which are spoken in small region on Gilān only. In the western side of Gilān people speak some sort of Gilaki language which is heavily mixed with Āzari Turkish, the language of the neighboring province.
After Gilān in the northwest of Iran, there are two Āzerbāijān provinces, the east and west ones, the main language is Āzari Turkish which is native language to the people of these provinces.
Majority of young generations of Iranian, in all over the country, are able to speak, read, and write Persian language, which is a national language of the country and they learn it in schools.
+ Climatological normals for stations in northern Iran (period 1991-2020) | ||||||||
WMO Station number | 40719 | 40738 | 40737 | 40718 | 40736 | 40734 | 40732 | 40721 |
Mean daily max/min (January) | 11.6 °C/3.8 °C (52.9 °F/38.8 °F) | 12.8 °C/1.9 °C (55.0 °F/35.4 °F) | 12.6 °C/3.1 °C (54.7 °F/37.6 °F) | 10.3 °C/5.6 °C (50.5 °F/42.1 °F) | 12.6 °C/5.4 °C (54.7 °F/41.7 °F) | 11.6 °C/4.6 °C (52.9 °F/40.3 °F) | 11.4 °C/5.0 °C (52.5 °F/41.0 °F) | 11.2 °C/3.6 °C (52.2 °F/38.5 °F) |
Mean daily max/min (July) | 30.5 °C/21.8 °C (86.9 °F/71.2 °F) | 33.5 °C/22.9 °C (92.3 °F/73.2 °F) | 30.9 °C/22.2 °C (87.6 °F/72.0 °F) | 29.2 °C/23.7 °C (84.6 °F/74.7 °F) | 30.0 °C/23.4 °C (86.0 °F/74.1 °F) | 29.1 °C/22.3 °C (84.4 °F/72.1 °F) | 29.2 °C/22.9 °C (84.6 °F/73.2 °F) | 34.7 °C/23.3 °C (94.5 °F/73.9 °F) |
Average Annual Precipitation | ||||||||
No. of days with precipitation ≥ 1.0 mm | 113.8 | 63.1 | 74.9 | 102.4 | 71.1 | 93.7 | 89.2 | 49.6 |
No. of days with Rain/Drizzle | 98 | 77.7 | 104.4 | 113.7 | 89 | 109.6 | 103 | 58.4 |
No. of days with Rain Showers | 31.7 | 26.7 | 22.4 | 42.6 | 24.5 | 34 | 32.4 | 16.7 |
No. of days with Snow depth > 0 cm | 8 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 1 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 5.9 |
Mean Annual Sunshine hours | 1748 | 2287 | 2008 | 1920 | 2095 | 1898 | 1658 | 2720 |
|
|