Khuzestan Province in Iran
About Khuzestan
Khuzestan The land of Khuzi people is more than 2500 years old and it is said that humans have lived in this area since 2700 BC. But most of us today know it because of the country’s gas and oil production. Of course, in addition to oil and gas, the name of Khuzestan reminds Iranians of the hard days of the 8 years of the imposed war. From the first days until the end of the war, this province witnessed various operations and many rain rockets, the traces of which can still be seen and bothering anyone.
Ahvaz is the capital of Khuzestan province. Khuzestan province is surrounded by the Zagros Mountains from the north and east. As we move towards the center of the province, the height of these mountains decreases, and the hills of Mahur can be seen. In general, Khuzestan can be divided into two mountainous and plain areas in which case two-fifths of the total area would be the mountainous province, and three-fifths of it is plains. Regarding main cities in this province, we could mention Ahvaz, Abadan, Susa, Shushtar, and Izeh.
The Land of Black Gold
Khuzestan province is located in the southwest of Iran in the north of the Persian Gulf. The climate in this province is hot and dry. The province’s largest river which is also the largest river in Iran is called Karun. It joins the Arvandrud river and together they flew to the Persian Gulf. Some parts of the province are suitable for farming due to the favorable climate and fertile soil.
In recent years, many agricultural complexes have been active in industrial farming using state-of-the-art machinery and methods. The discovery of oil and gas reserves in this province has also lead many oil companies to invest in the extraction of these natural resources. People of Persian, Luri, and Arabian ethnic origins live in this province. each of these ethnic groups speaks their respective language or dialect. Local music in this province is called Shushtari. it is a song by gardeners, carpet weavers, and other groups of people. The musical instruments used to create this kind of folk music were reed pipe (Ney), Persian lute (Tar), a local oboe (Dohol), and other Persian instruments such as Jufteh, Sorna, Dayereh, and Tonbak.
Archaeological evidence shows that human settlement, farming, and taming of animals in Ali Kosh Hill date back to 6700 BC. The city of Susa (Shush) is a memorial of civilization in Iran with several thousand years of history. Many items related to the Stone Age, Copper Age, Bronze Age, and the beginning of urban life have been found in this city.
Tchogha Zanbil
This historical region is an ancient city constructed by the Elamite king in the 13th century BC. This city consisted of different parts such as Ziggurat, concentric enclosed walls, entrance gateways, temples, houses, palaces, water disposal facilities, and three inner, central, and outer fences. This Ziggurat regard as the first religious building in Iran was constructed on five floors totally with a height of 52 m from which only 2 floors and half remained.
Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System
Frankly, this is one of the oldest engineering masterpieces in Iran and the world and has been constructed as an economical industrial complex in the vicinity of the Shushtar historical area, under Sassanid Empire.
Shushtar Falls
These falls are located near the Gargar River in a region called Sika. Around these falls, there have been watermills dating back to the Sassanid dynasty 3-6 centuries CE. The Sika Water Mills are one of the most notable attractions of the province. The mills consist of an area with small rooms and narrow corridors, alongside which streams of water canals. It has outlets to the Gargar River (a branch of Karun River). In these mills, the high pressure of water current from up to down moves the wheels for grinding the wheat. In summers, a pleasant drizzling wind blowing in the Sika rooms creates a cool recreational place for the people of Shushtar. The mills had great economic importance in ancient times. These mills are indeed a masterpiece of engineering design in ancient Iran.
Stone Lions
These statues are found mostly in Lorestan and Khuzestan. It is believed that they were memorials put as gravestones on the tombs of heroes and brave soldiers. The custom is still practiced among the Bakhtiari Lurs in Iran.
Kul Farah Stone Carvings
These carvings belong to Elamites and are located in the town of Izeh in the northeast of Khuzestan. The carvings show kings, worship ceremonies, and the offering of gifts.
Tomb of Prophet Daniel
This tomb belongs to Israelite Prophet Daniel (Danial Nabi). It is located on the eastern bank of the Shaur river facing the citadel of Susa. The most important part of the structure is its hexagonal dome which is 25 stories high.
Karkheh Dam
This dam is the largest stone and soil dam in Iran, made on the Karkheh River. The wall of this dam is 192 meters long and 9 meters high. There is a beautiful lake with fascinating scenery behind this dam.
Hur Al-Azim Gulf
This is the largest gulf formed by excessive water from three rivers of Karkhe, Tigris, and Doyrech. It is 100 km long and 15-75 km wide. The area is covered entirely by cane plants. It is shallow on the edge but can reach a few meters of depth in the middle. Different tribes live around this place and their main job is breeding oxen.
Historical Attractions:
Ruins of Sassanid Lur City dating to early Islamic era, ruins of Ilami, Za’faran, and Dasht Cities, and Amir Sef, Baba Lang and Imam Reza domes in Andimeshk, Ahvar hanging bridge, and ancient erections of Jondishapur university in Ahvaz City, Shami Ancient Mausoleum of the Sassanid Period, Susan and Shami heritages of the Parthian Period, Shahlu and Shivand heritages, Dehdez Castle and Tang Nashlil in the city of Izeh, Manjigh heritages with several millenniums of antiquity related to the Ilam Period in Bagh Malek, Kasra and Arjan bridges of the Sassanid Period, ruins of Beh Goaz city, Tang Sarvak (Sulak) tablets related to the Parthian Period, Kolah Farangi building and Safavid engravings in Behbahan City, Sassanid Ancient bridge which is the oldest bridge in the world, caravanserais belonging to the Safavid Period, Chaghamish hill and remainders of Jondishapur city belonging to the Sassanid Period in Dezful City, Davud Castle or Davud Dokhtar Castle belonging to the Safavid Period, Tagh Nosrat related to the sassanid era and Gur Hormoz attributed to the Sassanid period and Sokuva Relate to Parthians, house of Mostowfi and Sika Water Mills in the city of Shushtar, Shush Ancient hill, Shush Famous Castle, and Ya Ziggurat temple which has universal fame dating back to the 13th century BC is located around the city of Shush (Susa).
Religious Attractions:
Emamzadeh Abdollah shrines in Bagh Malek, Moghum, Heydar, Reza, and Aeyed shrines and mausoleums in Behbahan, Alamdar, Bibi Ghaj, and Khajeh Khezr shrines and mausoleums in Ramhormoz, Shah Safi Mosque and Shushtar Friday-prayer Mosque of the first of Islamic century, Anbar, Agha Barakat, and Shah Abulqasim Mausoleums and shrines in Masjed Soleyman, Seyed Abbas, Seyed Taher, and Dania1 Nabi (Prophet Daniel) shrines and mausoleums.
Natural Attractions:
Eyn Khosh and Dehloran springs in Andimeshk, Karun beautiful river and its banks in Ahvaz, the lake of the Dezful dam, Gelgir, and the lake of the Abbaspur dam. Hot water springs in Masjed Soleyman.