Yasuj

Coordinates: 30°40′N 51°35′E / 30.667, 51.583

Yasuj
Yasuj
Coordinates: 30°40′N 51°35′E / 30.667, 51.583
Country	Iran
Province	Kohkiluyeh and Buyer Ahmad
Population (2005)
- Total	136,509
	estimate
Time zone	IRST (UTC+3:30)

Yasuj (occasionally Yasooj or Yesūj) is an industrial city in the Zagros Mountains of southwestern Iran, and is the capital of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province province. It is located in the township of Boyer-Ahmad. Yasuj is also used to refer to the entire region.^[1]

Yasuj had an estimated population of 136,509 in 2005 ^[2], and has both a sugar processing plant^[3] and a coal-burning powerplant that generates electricity for the area.

Yasuj is the place where Alexander the Great and his Macedonian forces stormed the Persian Gates ("Darvazeh-ye Fars"), and fought themselves a way into the Persian heartland (331 BCE).^[4]

[edit] Historical sites

Yasuj has had a long history, being occupied at least since the early bronze age. Of note are the Martyrs Hills (dating from from third millinium B.C ), Khosravi Hill from the Achaemenian period, the ancient site of Gerd, the Pataveh bridge, and the Pay-e Chol cemetery. The Yasuj Museum which opened in 2002, displays coins, statues, pottery, and bronze vessels recovered from surrounding archaeological sites.^[5]

[edit] Tourism

Nearby is Sefid Mountain (3,102 m.) and the Dena Wildlife Reserve.

[edit] Economy

The economy of Yasuj is reported to be based on the following local exports:^{[citation needed]}

• baskets
• carpets/rugs
• mosaic tiles
• bricks
• livestock feed

[edit] Educational institutions

• Yasuj University of Medical Sciences^[6][7]
• Yasuj Chemical Engineering School^[8]

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Taylor & Francis Group (2003) "Iran" The Middle East and North Africa 2004 Europa, London, p. 406, ISBN 978-1-85743-184-1
2. ^ "2005 population estimates for cities in Iran" Mongabay.com
3. ^ Loeffler, Reinhold L. (1976) "Recent Economic Changes in Boir Ahmad: Regional Growth without Development" Iranian Studies 9(4): pp. 266-287, p. 269
4. ^ Henry Speck, "Alexander at the Persian Gates. A Study in Historiography and Topography" in: American Journal of Ancient History n.s. 1.1 (2002) 15-234; summarized at "Persian Gates"
5. ^ "Museum And National Parks" Islamic Institute of New York accessed 18 August 2008
6. ^ "Yasuj University of Medical Sciences" (in Persian)
7. ^ World Health Organization (2000) World Directory of Medical Schools: Répertoire mondial des écoles de médecine World Health Organization, Geneva, p. 199, ISBN 978-92-4-150010-4
8. ^ "Yasuj Chemical Engineering School" (in English & Persian)

[edit] External links

• Yasuj.Com in Farsi
• Photo of Yasuj city
• Videos of Yasuj powerplant construction
• 4fasl.Ir in Farsi
• "Persian Gates" Livius:Articles on Ancient History