MARKAZI PROVINCE

'Markazi' (استان مرکزی in Persian) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. The word ''markazi'' means ''central'' in Persian.
Markazi is in west Iran, and its capital is Arak. Its population is estimated at 1.35 million. The present boundaries of the province date to the 1980s, when the province was split into the current Markazi and the Tehran Province, with portions being annexed to Esfahan, Semnan Province and Zanjan.
The major cities of the province are: Saveh, Arak, Mahallat, Khomein, Delijan, Tafresh, Ashtian, and Shazand (previously known as Sarband)

Contents

History

Geography and climate

Counties and districts

Colleges and universities

External links

History

Markazi province was part of the Median Empire in the first millennium BC, which included all of the central and western parts of modern day Iran. The region is considered to be one of the ancient settlements on the Iranian plateau. Numerous remaining ruins testify to the antiquity of this area.
In the early centuries Islam, the name of the area was changed to ''Jabal'' or ''Qahestan''. By the early 10th century, ''Khorheh'' had become a famous city of Jabal province, followed by Tafresh and Khomein.
In recent times, the expansion of the North-South railroad (commonly known as the ''Persian Corridor'') and the establishing of major industries helped boost development in the area.
Many celebrities in Iranian history trace their beginnings to this province. namely: Mirza Abulqasem Qaem Maqam, Abbas Eqbal Ashtiani, Mirza Taqi Khan Amir Kabir, Qaem Maqam Farahani, Mahmoud Hessabi, Ayatollah Khomeini, Ayatollah Araki, and many others.

Geography and climate

Markazi has dry cold winters due to the mountainous terrain. It has an area of 29,530 km² (1.8% of all of Iran.)

Counties and districts

Markazi province consists of 10 counties and 18 districts.

Map	Shahrestan	Map Key	Bakhsh	Center
	Arak	'A'	Central	Arak
		'k'	Khandab
	Ashtian	'Ash'	Central	Ashtian
	Delijan	'D'	Central	Delijan
	Komijan	'K'	Central	Komijan
		'm'	Milajerd
	Khomein	'Kh'	Central	Khomein
		'k'	Kamareh
	Mahallat	'M'	Central	Mahallat
	Saveh	'S'	Central	Saveh
		'n'	Nobaran
	Shazand	'Sh'	Central	Shazand
		's'	Sarband
		'z'	Zalian
	Tafresh	'T'	Central	Tafresh
		'f'	Farahan
	Zarandiyeh	'Z'	Central	Mamooniyeh
		'k'	Kharqan
Neighbor Provinces: 'E:' Esfahan, 'H:' Hamedan, 'L:' Lorestan, 'Qm:' Qom, 'Qz:' Qazvin, 'T:' Tehran

Colleges and universities

★ # Arak University of Medical Sciences

★ # Arak University of Science and Technology

★ # University of Arak

★ # Islamic Azad University of Khomein

★ # Islamic Azad University of Arak

★ # Islamic Azad University of Saveh

★ # Islamic Azad University of Ashtian

★ # Islamic Azad University of Tafresh

★ # Tarbiat Moallem University of Arak

External links

★ Official website of Markazi Governorship

★ Provincial Cultural Heritage Organization

★ Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries & Mines