Varzaqan

Varzaqan

ورزقان
Varzaqan ورزقان
City
	Gol Akhur waterfall
	Varzaqan
	Coordinates: 38°30′34″N 46°39′00″E / 38.50944°N 46.65000°E
Country	Iran
Province	East Azerbaijan
County	Varzaqan
District	Central
Population (2016)
• Total	5,348
Time zone	UTC+3:30 (IRST)
Website	www.varzeqan.com

Varzaqan (Persian: ورزقان)^[a] is a city in the Central District of Varzaqan County,^[b] East Azerbaijan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.^[5] It is also the administrative center for Ozomdel-e Jonubi Rural District.^[6]

History

2024 helicopter crash

On 19 May 2024, a helicopter crash occurred about 25 km (16 mi) north of the city, killing Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and others.^[7]

Demographics

Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 3,549 in 930 households.^[8] The following census in 2011 counted 5,385 people in 1,392 households.^[9] The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 5,348 people in 1,401 households.^[2]

Geography

Earthquakes

The area is subject to earthquakes, and in 2012, a number of people were killed when an earthquake doublet (magnitude 6.4 and 6.3) struck on the afternoon of 11 August.^[10]

Economy

Agriculture

Farming and gardening is the predominant occupation in the rural areas of Varzaqan. The agricultural products from the area include apple, pear, cherry, walnut and apricot fruit. Recently spruce trees have been planted as the start of a forestry industry. Cold water fish farming has been started more recently.^[11]

Mining

The city is notable for the Sungun copper mine, 21.8 km (13.5 mi) from the city centre, which is estimated to have 3 percent of the known copper reserves in the world.^{[citation needed]}

Varzaqan is a mining centre for base metal mining, as well as gold. The Sungun copper mine is now the largest copper mine in northwestern Iran. The deposit itself is one of the largest copper deposits in the world. There are nearby gold mines at Sharafabad, Hyzjan, Tshkhsrv, Astrgan, Andaryan and Myvhrvd.^[11]^{[clarification needed]}

Historical landmarks

The cuneiform inscription in the village of Saqandel is the most famous historical monument in the region.

Notes

^ Also romanized as Varzeqān; also known as Warzagan; formerly Karzigan (كَرزيگَن), also romanized as Kārzigān and Karzygan^[3]
^ Formerly Arsbaran County^[4]

References

^ OpenStreetMap contributors (7 September 2024). "Varzaqan, Varzaqan County" (Map). OpenStreetMap (in Persian). Retrieved 7 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016): East Azerbaijan Province. amar.org.ir (Report) (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. Archived from the original (Excel) on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
^ Varzaqan can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3088233" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
^ Approval of changing the name of the new county of Arsbaran to Varzaqan by the ministers who are members of the Political Commission. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Political-Defense Commission of the Government Board. 19 March 2013 [Approved 18 August 1381]. Notification 58538/T 26118H. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2023 – via Research Center of the System of Laws of the Islamic Council of the Farabi Library of Mobie Users.
^ Aref, Mohammad Reza (24 March 2013) [Approved 7 January 2013]. Approval letter regarding the abstraction of Varzaqan and Kharvana Districts from Ahar County and its transformation into Arsbaran County. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Council of Ministers. Notification 31591/T24413H. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2023 – via Research Center of the System of Laws of the Islamic Council of the Farabi Library of Mobie Users.
^ Mousavi, Mirhossein (c. 2010) [Approved 18 May 1366]. Creation and formation of 30 rural districts including villages, farms and places in Ahar County under East Azerbaijan province. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Board of Ministers. Notification 115730/T835. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2023 – via Islamic Council Research Center.
^ "Live updates: Iran's president and foreign minister found dead at crash site, state media says". AP News. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
^ Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006): East Azerbaijan Province. amar.org.ir (Report) (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. Archived from the original (Excel) on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
^ Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011): East Azerbaijan Province. irandataportal.syr.edu (Report) (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. Archived from the original (Excel) on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via Iran Data Portal, Syracuse University.
^ "Iran earthquake relief efforts begin after 250 killed". BBC News. 12 August 2012.
^ ^a ^b Arzyl, Ahmed Hassan Nejad ( احمد حسن نژاد ارزیل) (2010). "تاریخچه شهرستان ورزقان (History of Varzeqan)". Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.

[4] Also romanized as Varzeqān; also known as Warzagan; formerly Karzigan (كَرزيگَن), also romanized as Kārzigān and Karzygan^[3]

[6] Formerly Arsbaran County^[4]

[1] OpenStreetMap contributors (7 September 2024). "Varzaqan, Varzaqan County" (Map). OpenStreetMap (in Persian). Retrieved 7 September 2024.

[2016_East_Azerbaijan_Province-2] Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016): East Azerbaijan Province. amar.org.ir (Report) (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. Archived from the original (Excel) on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2022.

[3] Varzaqan can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3088233" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".

[Arsbaran_Renamed_Varzaqan-5] Approval of changing the name of the new county of Arsbaran to Varzaqan by the ministers who are members of the Political Commission. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Political-Defense Commission of the Government Board. 19 March 2013 [Approved 18 August 1381]. Notification 58538/T 26118H. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2023 – via Research Center of the System of Laws of the Islamic Council of the Farabi Library of Mobie Users.

[Arsbaran_County_Establishment-7] Aref, Mohammad Reza (24 March 2013) [Approved 7 January 2013]. Approval letter regarding the abstraction of Varzaqan and Kharvana Districts from Ahar County and its transformation into Arsbaran County. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Council of Ministers. Notification 31591/T24413H. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2023 – via Research Center of the System of Laws of the Islamic Council of the Farabi Library of Mobie Users.

[Ahar_County_Rural_Districts-8] Mousavi, Mirhossein (c. 2010) [Approved 18 May 1366]. Creation and formation of 30 rural districts including villages, farms and places in Ahar County under East Azerbaijan province. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Board of Ministers. Notification 115730/T835. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2023 – via Islamic Council Research Center.

[9] "Live updates: Iran's president and foreign minister found dead at crash site, state media says". AP News. Retrieved 20 May 2024.

[2006_East_Azerbaijan_Province-10] Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006): East Azerbaijan Province. amar.org.ir (Report) (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. Archived from the original (Excel) on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2022.

[2011_East_Azerbaijan_Province-11] Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011): East Azerbaijan Province. irandataportal.syr.edu (Report) (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. Archived from the original (Excel) on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via Iran Data Portal, Syracuse University.

[12] "Iran earthquake relief efforts begin after 250 killed". BBC News. 12 August 2012.

[Arzyl-13] Arzyl, Ahmed Hassan Nejad ( احمد حسن نژاد ارزیل) (2010). "تاریخچه شهرستان ورزقان (History of Varzeqan)". Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.

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