Ardakan
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Ardakan (اردکان in Persian) is the second major city of Yazd province of Iran. It was established in 12th century in Zardak region. Ardakan is 60 kilometers far from Yazd and it has a dry weather.
The word "Ardakan" in Persian means "holy place" or "clean place" [Modern Persian: ardak+an / Middle Persian: artak+an] and the city has a lot of historical religious places: The Grand Mosque of Ardakan (Masjed-e Jame’), Zire-deh Mosque, Emam-Zadeh Mir Seyyed Mohammad, Tekyeh Bazar now and etc.
This region is also one of the Zoroastrianism centers in Iran, and there are numerous holy sites for Zoroastrians in Sharif-Abad a village near Ardakan. Each year in the summer, thousands of Zoroastrians from around the world gather there for pilgrimage.
The most important shrine is Pir-e Sabz Chek Chek. Other shrines are: Pir Shah Eshtad Izad, Pir Shah Tashtar Izad, Pir Shah Mehr Izad and Pir Shah Morad.
Ardakan is the birthplace of Mohammad Khatami, the fifth president of Iran.