Iran caravanserai

Iran caravanserai Iran Caravanserai Travel Agency(IRCTA)
IRCTA is specialized in small group Multi-sport Adventures in Traveling to Iran, Iran Tour Operator
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25/04/2020

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Kamjel (Canyoning،Mountaineering)Canyoning is very exciting and adventuring and today we want to explore one of the beau...
15/07/2017

Kamjel (Canyoning،Mountaineering)

Canyoning is very exciting and adventuring and today we want to explore one of the beautiful and amazing canyons in North of Iran. For This Trip we already got weather forecast because in rainy days it’s very dangerous to descend in valley. For canyoning the number of group is very important and for this one you should be less than 7 peoples.
Number of Big Waterfalls: 20 Waterfalls from 5m to 60m.

Train travelIn this short trip you can pass the most old and beautifully train route in Iran (North of Iran).During this...
15/07/2017

Train travel

In this short trip you can pass the most old and beautifully train route in Iran (North of Iran).
During this trip you can visit an old bridge that was built in 1956 by a group of German ,Danish and Austria engineers ,this bridge is built from 110m from the bottom means stand at 110 meters. This bridge connect railway from Tehran capital city of Iran to Caspian sea in the north of Iran.
These days this bridge not only is used for transportation but also is one of the most attraction for domestic and incoming tourism in Iran.

15/07/2017
15/07/2017
Takab (Takht_e Soleyman) UNESCO World Heritage Centre
15/07/2017

Takab (Takht_e Soleyman) UNESCO World Heritage Centre

15/07/2017
05/10/2015

Iran Caravanserai Travel Agency(IRCTA)
IRCTA is specialized in small group Multi-sport Adventures in Iran. There is a very strong focus on culture

Mt Damavand South Route Camp 1 Polour ResortPolour Camp is a new established complex sport center made by Iran Climbing ...
14/04/2014

Mt Damavand South Route Camp 1 Polour Resort
Polour Camp is a new established complex sport center made by Iran Climbing Federation near Haraz Road in Polour village, it is the best starting point for those who intend to climb from the calsic south route or the west route of Mt Damavand.Haraz Road is one of the main roads which connects the capital city Tehran to the Caspian Sea in north of Iran in Mazandaran province. This main road passes by Damawand through beautiful Haraz Valley closed to Haraz River.Accommodation
Polour Resort is the best resting place for acclimatization in the area. There is a hostel which looks like a comfortablel hotel located in Polour village. There are few private rooms and shared rooms with 2 stage beds (bunk beds), toilet, hot water, shower, kitchen and cooking gears.

Damavand Camp1 Polour Resort
Accommodation for the South and the West Routes
Advantages
- A shortcut to Base Camp.
- Suggested starting point for the south and the west routes.
- Best place in the area for acclimatization and accommodation.
- Private suites and shared rooms with bunk beds .
- Cooking equipments and kitchen.
- Tap water, telephone line and permanent electricity.
- Good toilet and showers, cold & hot water taps.
- 2 mobile network avalable in the area.
- Central heating, it is quite warm and comfortable in cold weather .
- Water, some food and soft drink and mountain gear avalable.
- Good management.

Disadvantages
There is no major disadvantages for this beautiful mount resort, but it is gaining popularity which could make it crowded in the peak of climbing season and you should book your room in advance.

Note
Haraz Road is one of the main roads which passes through Alborz Mountains and connects capital Tehran to north of Iran and the Caspian Sea in Mazandaran province, this road passes by Mt.Damavand through beautiful Haraz Valley closed to Haraz River.

Other Names and Spellings
Panagah polor, Polur resort, poolor hostel, poolour lodge.

Mt Damavand Camp1 Polour Hut
Bed Rooms
Mt Damavand Camp1 Polour Hut Lobby
Location
Altitude 2270 m
Coordinate
Latitude 35-50-50 N
Longitude 52-03-36 E

Quick Facts
Distance from Tehran 80 Km, 1.5 hours by car
Distance to Camp 2 – Base Camp 1 hour by car (mostly gravel road)
Distance from Tehran 80 Km, about 2 hours by car
Distance to Camp2 Base, 1 hour by car ( 11.3 Km asphalt road + 6.4 Km gravel road )

GPS Tracks IKA Airport Tehran to Camp1 Polour Hut
GPS Track File IKA Airport to Camp1 Polour: Download.

How to go to Camp1 Polour
On the first day of travel to Iran you can go directly from IKA Airport or a hotel in Tehran to Polour Resort in Polour Village.

Tehran> Haraz Road> Polour Village Junction> Camp1 Polor Resort
There is a good sign on the Haraz Road at the Polour Village Junction, statue of a mountaineer showes the correct location and your direction!

By Taxi
You can get a taxi to take you to Polour Village either from airport or any hotel in Tehran. Remember most taxi drivers do not know about the exact location of this mountain campsite.

By Bus
A cheap way is to go by bus, but there is no direct bus from airport or Tehran to this village. There is a major bus terminal in eastern Tehran called Terminal Shargh in Tehranpars area, at this terminal most buses go to the north of Iran through Haraz Road, you should leave the bus at Polour Village Junction and then get a local taxi to Camp1 Polour.

RamsarRamsar is a popular sea resort for Iranian tourists. The town also offers hot springs, the green forests of the Al...
14/04/2014

Ramsar

Ramsar is a popular sea resort for Iranian tourists. The town also offers hot springs, the green forests of the Alborz Mountains and the Caspian Museum (housed in the 1937 summer palace of the last Shah), and additionally the Ramsar Grand Hotel. Twenty-seven kilometres south of Ramsar and 2700 meters above sea level in the Alborz mountains is Javaherdeh village, which is an important tourist attraction in Ramsar county.

Some areas around Ramsar have the highest level of natural radioactivity in the world, due to the presence of radioactive hot springs.

Zinegan Cave – in ilam provinceZinegan is a very beautiful cave in Ilam. Actually it is a strait or as some people call ...
12/04/2014

Zinegan Cave –
in ilam province
Zinegan is a very beautiful cave in Ilam. Actually it is a strait or as some people call it; an open cave. The temperature difference between inside the cave and outside is surprisingly so great that its second name is Paradise Cave.

In summer the difference reaches 20 to 30 °C. The cave is said to be 6 km long with several halls, vestibules and many stalactites and stalagmites. There is plenty of water in the cave that in some parts you have to walk through water and get wet.

KhuzestanKhuzestan is a beautiful province with wonderful nature, including many waterfalls and mountains. This land can...
09/04/2014

Khuzestan

Khuzestan is a beautiful province with wonderful nature, including many waterfalls and mountains. This land can be called the origin of many civilizations around the world.
Most cities of Khuzestan have beautiful views to Karun river .
In Khuzestan palm trees are very common.
Khuzestan is very rich in petroleum. There are many dams over rivers passing through the province which produce energy. Some Arab tribe live here.
Also the “Bakhtiary” tribe live in the mountains of north Khuzestan. They are very clever; they found us a few moments after we reached Shimbar waterfall! Some locals told us they can be dangerous if they feel anyone disturbing.

Shushtar Historical Hydraulic SystemShushtar Historical Hydraulic System is an island city from the Sassanid era with a ...
09/04/2014

Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System

Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System is an island city from the Sassanid era with a large irrigation system from which Shushtar derived its agricultural productivity,and which has been designated World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 2009. One of structures of the Hydraulic System was Band-e Kaisar (“Caesar’s dam”), a Roman arch bridge, one of the first in the country to combine it with a dam.When the Sassanian Shah Shapur I defeated the Roman emperor Valerian, he is said to have ordered the captive Roman soldiers to build a large bridge and dam stretching over 500 metres.Lying deep in Persian territory, the structure which exhibits typical Roman building techniques became the most eastern Roman bridge and Roman dam. Its dual-purpose design exerted a profound influence on Iranian civil engineering and was instrumental in developing Sassanid water management techniques.The approximately 500 m long overflow dam over the Karun, Iran’s most effluent river. The arched superstructure carried across the important road between Pasargadae and the Sassanid capital Ctesiphon. Many times repaired in the Islamic period,[10] the dam bridge fell out of use in the late 19th century, leading to the degeneration of the complex system of irrigation…..
The ancient Shooshtar waterfalls in Iran’s southern Khuzestan Province have been registered on the UNESCO 2009 World Heritage List.
“The decision was made at a World Heritage Committee meeting in the city of Seville in Spain,” said Iran’s representative to UNESCO, Mohammad Reza Dehshiri on Friday.
The city of Shooshtar is famous for its water supply installations, which date back to the Sassanid era (224-651 CE).
The country’s largest river, Karun which encircles the city has created beautiful waterfalls in different parts of Shooshtar.
Shooshtar is an ancient fortress city in the Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. It is approximately 92 km away from Ahvaz, the centre of the province.
Iran has so far registered ten historical sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List including Persepolis, Pasargadae and Bisotun.
The Armenian Monastic Ensembles (2008), Bisotun (2006), Soltaniyeh Dome (2005), Pasargadae (2004), Bam and its Cultural Landscape (2004), Takht-e Soleyman (2003), Tchogha Zanbil (1979), Persepolis (1979) Isfahan’s Naqsh-e-Jahan Square are the other Iranian sites registered on the UNESCO list.

Valasht LakeValasht Lake with its depth ranging from seven to 28 meters and a height of 1,000 meters above the Caspian S...
09/04/2014

Valasht Lake

Valasht Lake with its depth ranging from seven to 28 meters and a height of 1,000 meters above the Caspian Sea level is located about 30 kilometers northeast of Kelardasht in northern province of Mazandaran.
Valasht Lake contains two million square meters of water in an area of 24 hectares and is fed by a number of springs in its bed.
Access to this lake is from the northeast of Kelardasht (recommended), of course there is another way from west of the Chaloos Road and Marzan Abad.

Niavaran Palace Complex (Persian: کاخ نیاوران) is a historical complex situated in the northern part of Tehran, Iran. It...
03/04/2014

Niavaran Palace Complex (Persian: کاخ نیاوران) is a historical complex situated in the northern part of Tehran, Iran. It consists of several buildings and a museum. The Sahebqraniyeh Palace, from the time of Naser al-Din Shah of Qajar dynasty, is also inside this complex. The main Niavaran Palace, completed in 1968, was the primary residence of the last Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the Imperial family until the Iranian Revolution. The main palace was designed by the Iranian architect Mohsen Foroughi.

The Niavarān Palace Complex traces its origin to a garden in Niavaran, Tehran, that was used by Nasir edin Shah(16 July 1831 – 1 May 1896) as a summer residence. The palace erected by Nasir al-Din Shah in this garden was originally referred to asThe Niavarān Palace and was later renamed The Sahebqraniyeh Palace. During the reign of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi all the peripheral buildings of The Sahebqraniyeh Palace, with the exception of The Ahmad-Shahi Pavilion (or Kushk-e Ahmad-Shahi), were demolished and the buildings and the structures of the present-day Niavarān Palace Complex were built to the north of The Sahebqraniyeh Palace. In this period, The Ahmad-Shahi Pavilion served as an exhibition area of the presents of the world leaders to Iran.

Golestan PalaceView of Khalvat-e-karimkhani (panorama).Golestān Palace (Persian: کاخ گلستان) pronounced "Kakheh Golestān...
23/03/2014

Golestan Palace

View of Khalvat-e-karimkhani (panorama).
Golestān Palace (Persian: کاخ گلستان) pronounced "Kakheh Golestān" is the former royal Qajar complex in Iran's capital city.
The oldest of the historic monuments in Tehran, a world heritage,[1] the Golestan Palace (also Gulistan Palace) (The Rose Garden Palace) belongs to a group of royal buildings that were once enclosed within the mud-thatched walls of Tehran’s Historic Arg (citadel).
Contents
1 History
2 Palaces
2.1 Takht Marmar
2.2 Khalvat Karim Khani
2.3 Hoze Khaneh
2.4 Negar Khaneh
2.5 Talar Berelian
2.6 Museum Of Gifts
2.7 Talar Zoroof
2.8 Talar Adj
2.9 Talar Aineh
2.10 Talar Salam
2.11 Shams-ol-Emareh
2.12 Emarat Badgir
2.13 Talar Almas
2.14 Abyaze Palace

The Arg was built during the reign of Tahmasp I (r. 1524-1576) of the Safavid dynasty (1502–1736), and was later renovated by Karim Khan Zand (r. 1750-1779). Agha Mohamd Khan Qajar (1742–1797) chose Tehran as his capital. The Arg became the site of the Qajar (1794–1925). The Court and Golestan Palace became the official residence of the royal Qajar family. The palace was rebuilt to its current form in 1865 by Haji Abol-hasan Mimar Navai.
During the Pahlavi era (1925–1979) Golestan Palace was used for formal royal receptions and the Pahlavi dynasty built their own palace at Niavaran. The most important ceremonies held in the Palace during the Pahlavi era were the coronation of Reza Khan (r. 1925-1941) in Takht-e Marmar and the coronation of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (r. 1941-deposed 1979) in the Museum Hall.
In between 1925 and 1945 a large portion of the buildings of the palace were destroyed on the orders of Reza Shah who believed that the centuries old Qajar palace should not hinder the growth of a modern city. In the place of the old buildings modern 1950s and 1960s style commercial buildings were erected.

Golestan Palace Complex consists of 17 palaces, museums, and Halls. Almost all of this complex was built during 200 years of Qajar kings ruling. These palaces were used for many different occasions such as coronation and other important celebrations.
Takht Marmar.
The spectacular terrace known as Takht-e Marmar (Marble Throne) was built in 1806 by order of Fath Ali Shah Qajar (r. 1797-1834). Adorned by paintings, marble-carvings, tile-work, stucco, mirrors, enamel, woodcarvings, and lattice windows; the throne embodies the finest of Iranian architecture. The Marble Throne is one of the oldest buildings of the historic Arg. The existing throne, which is situated in the middle of the terrace (iwan), is made of the famous yellow marble of Yazd province.
The throne is made of sixty-five pieces of marble and was designed by Mirza Baba Naghash Bashi (head painter) of the Qajar court. Mohammad Ebrahim, the Royal Mason, oversaw the construction and several celebrated masters of the time worked on the ex*****on of this masterpiece. The architectural details and other ornaments of the terrace (iwan) were completed during the reigns of Fath Ali Shah and Nasser - ol- Din Shah (r. 1848-1896).
Coronations of Qajar kings, and formal court ceremonies were held on this terrace (iwan). The last coronation to be held at Takht-e-Marmar was the coronation of, the self-proclaimed King, Reza Khan Pahlavi in 1925.
Khalvat Karim Khani
Dating back to 1759, this building was a part of the interior residence of Karim Khan Zand. The basic structure of the Khalvat-e-Karim Khani is similar to Takht-e-Marmar. Like the latter, it is a terrace (iwan). There is a small marble throne inside the terrace. The structure is much smaller than Takht-e-Marmar and it has much less ornamentation. There was once a small pond with a fountain in the middle of this terrace. Water from a subterranean stream (the king’s qanat) flowed from the fountain into the pond and was later used to irrigate the Palace grounds.
Nasser-ol-Din Shah was fond of this corner of Golestan Palace. He is said to have spent much time here in rest and repose– smoking his water pipe in quite reflection. In fact, some believe that it was he who dubbed the structure Khalvat (nook). It seems extraordinary, but the valuable gravestone of Nasser-ol-Din Shah finally found its way to this quite corner of the Palace after being misplaced for sometime. This marble stone with a craved image of Nasser-ol-Din Shah is indeed a site to behold.
Hoze Khaneh
Takht Marmar Fat′h-Ali Shah Qajar and Howz Khaneh.
The spring hall (Hoze Khaneh) of Golestan Palace by Kamal-ol-molk
Works of European painters presented to the Qajar court are housed in the Hoze Khaneh.
The Hoze Khaneh was used as a summer chamber during the Qajar ear. A special cooling system pumped water form a subterranean system of streams (qanats) – in this case the king’s qanat – into small ponds inside the chambers. Hose means pond, thus the name Hose Khaneh. The system was designed to pass through as many summer rooms as was necessary. The water was then channeled outside to irrigate the royal gardens. Due to the harmful effects of humidity, this system is no longer in use.
Negar Khaneh
Nasser-ol-Din Shah was very impressed by the exhibition of artifacts and valuable objects at European museums during his second European tour around 1872. He arrived back in Tehran intent on building a museum hall to exhibit paintings, royal jewels, and other royal artifacts.
The original collection of the museum hall is now scattered among Tehran’s many museums. However, the paintings of the royal court are now kept at the Golestan Palace – with the European paints housed in the Hose Khaneh and the works of Iranian painters housed in the Negar Khaneh (the Gallery). Meant to show the evolution of painting in Iran during the Qajar era, the works of Iranian painters are exhibited in two sections. Housed in the southern part of the Negar Khaneh are the works of early Qajar masters such as Mirza Baba, Mehr Ali Afshar, Ali Akbar Khan Mozaien-ol-Douleh, Aboul Hassan Sani (Sanie-ol-Molk) who was Kamal-ol-Molk’s uncle.
The northern Negar Khaneh, was the seat of the Royal Guard during the time of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The northern hall underwent substantial renovations in 1995 and now houses the works of later masters of the Qajar era such as Mahmoud Khan Saba (Malek-ol-Shoara), Mohammad Gafari Kashani (Kamal-ol-Molk), Mehri, Mosa Momayez.
Talar Berelian
Talar-e Berelian (Hall of Brilliance) was named so for it is adomed by the brilliant mirror work of Iranian artisans. The Hall was built by Nasser-ol-Din Shah build to replace another hall called Talar Bolour (Crystal Hall). Built by Fath Ali Shah the Bolour Hall had been laid waste by the damp. The Berelian Hall is famous for its mirror work and chandeliers. An oil painting by Yahya Khan Sanie-ol-Molk Ghafari, showing the decorations of this hall before renovations carried out by Mozafar-ol-Din Shah (r. 1896-1907). exists in the Golestan Palace.
In the Ethnography gallery in Horsham Museum, Horsham, United Kingdom an Iranian Tile is displayed. The tile, according to the former Deputy Minister of Culture and Higher Education of Iran, Dr Mehdittodjat, comes from the Golestan Palace built around 1810-20, one of the foundation buildings of Teheran. It comes from the entrance to the Salone Beriliyon (brilliant diamond) room and was probably a reject or it may have been retrieved from the rebuilding of the palace in the period 1867-92. It was found, smashed beneath a gatepost in Shipley by Mr & Mrs Ayling, who kindly donated it to the Museum. The plaque has been set in plaster and unfortunately not all the glazed decoration survived.
Museum Of Gifts
This building is located under the Salam Hall or Museum. It is indeed a part of the first Iranian museum, which was built by Mohamad Ebrahim Khan Memar Bashi.
In Nasser-0l-Din shah’s period, this building was used as a warehouse for the china and silverware, which was dedicated to Qajar kings.
In the Pahlavi period, this warehouse was turned in to a museum to expose the rare gifts, which was given to the Qajar kings.
Right now in addition to the gifts, some rare objects are kept in this museum, some of them are as follows: 1- Helmet of king Esmail Safavid. 2- Bow and arrows of King Nader. 3- Armband of Fath Ali Shah. 4- The collection of Qajar Seals. 5- Aga Mohamad khan’s crown. 6- A decorated ostrich egg.
Talar Zoroof
This building replaced the Narenjestan building in the north of Adj Hall or sofre Khaneh. All the chinaware that were dedicated to Qajar kings by the European kings were taken to this room and was arranged in show cases which were built for this purpose.
All the chinaware that exists in this room is rare and beautiful. Among them these are the most exceptional:
1- The chinaware that shows the Napoleonic wars dedicated by Napoleon the first.
2- The chinaware dedicated by King Nicoli the first.
3- Chinaware studded with gems and jewels dedicated by Queen Victoria.
4- The chinaware which was dedicated by King Vilhelm to the Iranianan crown prince.
5- A set made by Melacit stone dedicated by Alexandre the third.
Talar Adj
Talar-e Adj (Hall of Ivory) is a large hall used as a dining room. It was decorated with gifts presented to Nasser-ol-Din Shah by European monarchs.
Among the Golestan Palace collection, a watercolor by Mahmoud Khan Malek-ol-Shoara, shows the exterior view of this hall during the Qajar period.
Talar Aineh
Mirror Hall
Talar-e Aineh (Hall of Mirrors) is the most famous of the Palace hall. This relatively small hall is famous for its extraordinary mirror work. The Hall was designed by Haj Abdoul Hossein Memar bashi (Sanie-ol-Molk).Yahaya Khan Moetamed-ol-Molk,the Minister of Architecture,acted as consultant to the designer
Talar Salam
Entrance Hall salam.
Shams-ol-Emareh.
Talar Salam (Reception Hall) was originally designed to be a museum. After the Takht-e-Tavoos (Iranian’s famous Jeweled Peacock Throne) was moved to the Royal jewels collection at the Central Bank, this hall was designated to hold special receptions in the presence of the king, hence the name Talar Salam.
Tourists and envoys from European courts received in the Arg during the reign of Nasser-ol-Din Shah, spoke of this outstanding hall comparing it to its European counterparts.
This hall has exquisite mirrors work. The ceiling and walls are decorated with plaster molding. The floors are covered with mosaic.
During the reign of Nasser-ol-Din Shah, this hall was used to exhibit Iranian and European paintings alongside gifts presented to the Iranian court. Royal jewels were also exhibited inside glass cases. These jewels are now housed at the Royal Jewels Museum of the Central Bank.
Shams-ol-Emareh
Shams-ol-Emareh (Edifice of the Sun) is the most stunning structures of the Golestan Palace.
The idea of building a tall structure came to Nasser-ol-Din Shah before his first European and from pictorial images of European buildings. The Monarch wanted a structure from which he could have panoramic views of the city.
Designed by Moayer-ol-Mamalek, construction on the Shams-ol-Emareh began in 1865 and was completed two years later. The architect was Master Ali Mohammad Kashi.
The building has two identical towers. The exterior views have multiple arches, intricate tile work and ornate windows. This building is a fusion of Persian and European architecture.
Emarat Badgir
Emarat Badgir (Building of the Wind Towers) was constructed during the reign of Fath Ali Shah (circa 1806). The building underwent major renovations, including structural changes, during the reign of Nasser-ol-Din Shah. A watercolor rendering by Mahmood Khan Malek-ol-Shoara depicts the original structure prior to renovations,.
The building is flanked by two rooms known as goshvar (earrings). There is a central room which boasts the finest stained glass window in Golestan Palace. Outside, there are four wind towers of blue, yellow and black glazed tiles and a golden cupola. The wind towers are constructed to allow the cooling wind to move through the structure.
Talar Almas
Talar Almas (Hall of Diamonds) is located in the southern wing of Golestan Palace next to the Badgir Building. It is called Hall of Diamonds because of the exceptional mirror work inside the building.
The construction of this hall dates to the time of Fath Ali Shah (circa1806). Nasser-ol-Din Shah renovated this hall changing its appearance and replacing the hall’s Ogival arches with Roman ones. He also ordered the walls covered with wallpaper imported from Europe. As the basic structure dates back to the time of Fath Ali Shah, it is only. It is only apt that this hall should be devoted to the exhibition of art and handicrafts from that period.
Abyaze Palace
The Ottoman king, Sultan Abdoulhamid, send precious gifts to Nasser-ol-Din Shah. Reportedly, these gifts were copious and enough to fill a castle. The Qajar monarch was delighted with these gifts. He decided to build an exhibit hall worthy of these gifts within the confines of Golestan Palace. It is believed that Nasser-ol-Din Shah, himself, designed the structure, with a central hall large enough to house the carpet that was sent by Sultan Abdoulhamid.
Completed in 1883, the Abyaze (White) Palace now houses one of the most interesting ethological museums in Iran. There is a colorful exhibition of tradition Iranian costumes, as well as a folk art exhibition
"Emarat-e Badgir", or the so-called "windcatcher emarate" is in the east section of the compound.
A view of the Gulistan Palace's garden from Khalvat e Karimkhani.
Kushk of Shams ol-Emareh, Golestan complex.
Khalvat-e Karimkhani was a spot designed for quiet reflection inside the palace compounds
Orosi windows in the Palace

Vank CathedralHoly Savior CathedralՍուրբ Ամենափրկիչ ՎանքBasic informationLocation Jolfa district, Isfahan, IranAffiliati...
23/03/2014

Vank Cathedral
Holy Savior Cathedral
Սուրբ Ամենափրկիչ Վանք

Basic information
Location Jolfa district, Isfahan, Iran
Affiliation Armenian Apostolic Church
Architectural description
Groundbreaking 1655 (original church in 1606)
Completed 1664
Holy Savior Cathedral (Armenian: Սուրբ Ամենափրկիչ Վանք, Surp Amenaprgich Vank; Persian: کلیسای وانک or آمنا پرکیج, Kelisa-ye Vank or Amenapergich; ), also known as Vank Cathedral and The Church of the Saintly Sisters, is a cathedral in Isfahan, Iran. Vank means "monastery" or "convent" in the Armenian language.

Vank Cathedral was one of the first churches to be established in the city's Jolfa district by Armenian deportees settled by Shah Abbas I after the Ottoman War of 1603-1605. The varying fortunes and independence of this suburb across the Zayandeh rood and its eclectic mix of European missionaries, mercenaries and travelers can be traced almost chronologically in the cathedral's combination of building styles and contrasts in its external and internal architectural treatment.

Construction is believed to have begun in 1606, and completed with major alterations to design between 1655 and 1664 under the supervision of Archbishop David. The cathedral consists of a domed sanctuary, much like a Persian mosque, but with the significant addition of a semi-octagonal apse and raised chancel usually seen in western churches. The cathedral's exteriors are in relatively modern brickwork and are exceptionally plain compared to its elaborately decorated interior.

The interior is covered as with fine paintings and gilded carvings and includes a wainscot of rich tile work. The delicately blue and gold painted central dome depicts the Biblical story of creation of the world and man's expulsion from Eden. Pendentives throughout the church are painted with a distinctly Armenian motif of a cherub's head surrounded by folded wings. The ceiling above the entrance is painted with delicate floral motifs in the style of Persian miniature. Two sections, or bands, of murals run around the interior walls: the top section depicts events from the life of Jesus, while the bottom section depicts tortures inflicted upon Armenian martyrs by the Ottoman Empire.

The interior of the Vank Cathedral.
The courtyard contains a large freestanding belfry towering over the graves of both Orthodox and Protestant Christians. A tile work plaque inscribed in Armenian can be seen by the entrance to the cathedral; graves are also placed along the exterior wall before the entrance, with inscriptions in Armenian. In one corner of the courtyard is a raised area with a memorial to the 1915 Armenian Genocide in Turkey. Across the courtyard and facing the cathedral is a building housing a library and museum; outside of this building are several carved stones showing scenes from the Bible

Lake UrmiaLake Urmia from space in 1984Coordinates 37°42′N 45°19′ECoordinates: 37°42′N 45°19′EType salt (hypersaline) la...
23/03/2014

Lake Urmia

Lake Urmia from space in 1984
Coordinates 37°42′N 45°19′ECoordinates: 37°42′N 45°19′E
Type salt (hypersaline) lake
Primary outflows evaporation
Basin countries Iran
Max. length 140 km (87 mi)
Max. width 55 km (34 mi)
Surface area 5,200 km2 (2,000 sq mi)
Max. depth 16 m (52 ft)

Lake Urmia (Persian: دریاچه ارومیه, Daryache-ye Orumiye, Azerbaijani: Urmu gölü اورمو گؤلو,Armenian: Ուրմիա Լիճ, "Urmia Lich"; ancient name: Lake Matiene) is a salt lake in northwestern Iran near Iran's border with Turkey.The lake is between the Iranian provinces of East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan, west of the southern portion of the similarly shaped Caspian Sea. It is the largest lake in the Middle East and the sixth largest saltwater lake on earth with a surface area of approximately 5,200 km² (2,000 mile²), 140 km (87 mi) length, 55 km (34 mi) width, and 16 m (52 ft) depth.
Lake Urmia along with its approximately 102 islands are protected as a national park by the Iranian Department of Environment.

One of the early mentions of Lake Urmia is from the Assyrian records from 9th century BCE. There, in the records of Shalmaneser III (reign 858–824 BCE), two names are mentioned in the area of Lake Urmia: Parsuwash and Matai. It is not completely clear whether these referred to places or tribes or what their relationship was to the subsequent list of personal names and "kings". But Matais were Medes and linguistically the name Parsuwash matches the Old Persian word pārsa, an Achaemenid ethnolinguistic designation.
"Lake Matianus" (Latin: Lacus Matianus) is an old name for Lake Urmia. It was the center of the Mannaean Kingdom, a potential Mannaean settlement, represented by the ruin mound of Hasanlu, was on the south side of Lake Matianus. Mannae was overrun by the people who were called Matiani or Matieni, an Iranian people variously identified as Scythian, Saka, Sarmatian, or Cimmerian. It is not clear whether the lake took its name from the people or the people from the lake, but the country came to be called Matiene or Matiane.
The lake is named after the provincial capital city of Urmia, originally a Syriac name meaning city of water. In the early 1930s, it was called Lake Rezaiyeh (Persian: دریاچه رضائیه) after Reza Shah Pahlavi, but after the Iranian Revolution in the late 1970s, the lake was renamed Urmia. Its ancient Persian name was Chichast (meaning, "glittering"–a reference to the glittering mineral particles suspended in the lake water and found along its shores). In medieval times it came to be known as Lake Kabuda, or "azure", in Persian

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