Rasht
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Rasht.png
Rasht (sometimes spelled 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.
In 1991, the city had a population of 340 637, but it was estimated to grow to 450 000 by 2005. The people speak Gilaki, a dialect of Persian.
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Geography and Climate
Rasht is nestled between the coast of the Caspian Sea and the slopes of the Alborz (or Elburz) mountain range on a branch of the Sefid River. It 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. [1] (http://www.irancaravan.com/GPR.htm)
History
Rasht was first mentioned in historical documents in 682 CE, but it is certainly older than this. It has seen the Sassanid era, the Arab Invasion, 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.
Timeline
- 682: Rasht is first mentioned in historical documents
- 1669: Stenka Razin, a Russian sailor, plundered the city
- 1722 - 1734: occupied by Peter the Great
- 1901: a major epidemic plague devastates the city.
- 1917 - 1920: The Russian and British armed forces fight in the port of Anzali Port 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 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
External links and Sources
- Pictures at Guilan.net (http://www.guilan.net/)
- City of Rast Information Center (http://www.rasht.info/)
- Iran Chamber Society: Rasht (http://www.iranchamber.com/cities/rasht/rasht.php/)
- Iran Chamber of commerce, Industries & Mines: Gilan (http://www.iccim.org/English/Iran/gilan/)
- Encyclopedia of the Orient (http://lexicorient.com/e.o/rasht.htm)
- Info Please (http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0841175.html)