Piranshahr
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Piranshahr (Persian: پیرانشهر , meaning City of Piran and is derived from the name of the local [1] tribe of Piran [2], also local: Xanê (trans. Khane)) is a city located in West Azarbaijan Province in the northwest of Iran. The population of the city was around 109,000 inhabitants in 2005[3]. The city is located west of Lake Urmia at the elevation of about 1,300 metres above sea level. The tribes of Piranshahr are divided into 4 groups namely Mamesh, Mangoor, Piran and Belbas. These tribes have their own unique lifestyles including seasonal migration.
Piranshahr is on the border between Iran and Iraq, and the high mountains of Siyah Kooh and Sipan lie respectively to the northwest and south. The River Zaab originates in these mountains.
The city of Piranshahr produces a full range of over 100 different granite materials in a variety of colours and textures. The quality and the beauty of Piranshahr stones are one of the best-known in the world, especially in Italy and Portugal.
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[edit] History
Piranshar is one of East Kurdistan's cities and it is a very ancient settlement. Its locale was the capital of some ancient (Aryan) civilizations such as Lolo, Boti and according to some sources, the kingdoms of the Diyako.
The earliest evidence of settlement in the Piranshar region date to about 14,000 years ago.
[edit] Climate
Piranshahr experiences variable weather, including four distinct seasons. In July, the warmest month, high temperatures average 29 °C (84 °F), and low temperatures 17 °C (63 °F). In January, the coldest month, High temperatures average -2 °C (29 °F), with low temperatures averaging -11 °C (13 °F).
Piranshahr's yearly precipitation averages about 965 mm (38 inches). Summer is the rainiest season, with short-lived rainfall and thunderstorms more common than prolonged rainy periods [3]. Winter is the driest season, with most of the precipitation falling as snow.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Piranshahr is an unofficial 44 °C (109 °F) on July 24, 1935. The highest official temperature ever recorded is 42 °C (105 °F) on July 17, 1995 during the Piranshahr Heat Wave. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Piranshahr is -33 °C (-27 °F) on January 20, 1985. On December 24, 1983, the high temperature at Piranshahr reached only -23 °C (-11 °F), and on July 30, 1916, the low temperature sank to only 29 °C (84 °F), both of which are records.
Winter in Piranshahr is a variable and fickle season. The average Piranshahr winter produces 940 mm (37.0 inches) of snow. This number can prove unreliable, as Piranshahr winters have produced between 249 and 2210 mm (9.8 and 87.0 inches) of snow. Snow tends to fall in light accumulations of around 50.8 mm (2 inches), but about once per year Piranshahr experiences a storm that can produce 254 to 356 mm (10 to 14 inches) of snow in one day. Temperatures can vary wildly within the span of one week, but extended periods of temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) are not uncommon in January and February. The temperature in January averages about -4 °C (25 °F) in the afternoon, and -12 °C (10 °F) at night. Temperatures can be expected to drop below -18 °C (0 °F) on 15 days throughout the winter season. Although rare, temperatures in Piranshahr even in the middle of winter can reach 10 °C (50 °F).
[edit] Geology
Piranshahr has no active or dormant volcanoes and few earthquakes, however many residents of Piranshahr city feel one or two minor earthquakes per year, which do little or no damage. Imperceptible quakes are detected by seismometers on a daily basis.
On Saturday , September 04, 1910, Piranshahr was struck by an earthquake of magnitude 8.1 on the Richter scale, which resulted in a death toll estimated 12,000 and 8,000 people were injured, and leaving another 20,000 homeless. The rescue workers saved more than 4,000 souls.More than one ten thousand housing units were destroyed, together with many buildings.
[edit] Agriculture
Mukryan Rural Cooperative Organization has bought some 470,000 tons of wheat, valued at Rls.840 billion, from farmers since the beginning of the year. Among Mukryan cities, Piranshar is considered as a fine example in agriculture improvements. Since 2002, most of the investments in the city are made in the agricultural sector. Therefore, farm and garden coverage in Piranshar has extended from 80 square kilometres in 2002 to 190 km² in 2004.
[edit] Economy
The Piranshar economy includes that of the City of Piranshar and the surrounding towns and villages of Piranshar area. The Piranshar area is an engine of the provincial economy. The city of Piranshar has the most important Sugar Company in the province. The employees and grower-owners are very proud of their company. There are four Sugar Companies in the province inclusive the Sugar Company of Piranshar.
The plant, in the course of years of its activity, has been constantly renovated by making use of the existing capabilities in the plant. The manufacturing product of this plant is 30000 tons of sugar annually (1500 tons of beetroot per day), and of its by-products one may name dried waste to the quantity of 100 tons per day to be used for animal food, and medico-industrial alcohol to the quantity of 3000 tons annually by using the available beetroot molasses in the factory.
Considering the demand for sugar in the country which is about 1.5 million tons annually, and the supply thereof by 35 manufacturing units equivalent to 800 thousand tons, and consequently considerable shortage of sugar, the significance of the manufacture of such a product is noticeable.
The consuming raw material is beetroot which is supplied in the farm lands around the plant with the extent of 70 km², subject to using the facilities offered by the company to the farmers.
The Sugar Company of Piranshahr is the provinces largest producer of raw sugar, accounting for over 60% of all of the Province's sugar.For more information visit this governmental site: [4]:
Various forms of economic discrimination, including access to jobs in general; in the case of the Piranshehr Sugar Company, the discharge in May 2001 of 80% of the Kurdish employees by a non-Kurdish president and their replacement by workers of other ethnicities, “and those who collaborate with the Pasdaran”;
[edit] Education
Piranshahr has an educated population and its literacy rate is very high: of Piranshahr's population over 28.60% (vs. a national average of 24%) hold a bachelor's degree or higher; 94% (vs. 82% nationally) have a high school diploma or equivalent. In fact, Piranshahr has the highest percentage of college graduates of any city in the entire country.
The main institutions of higher education in the area is Payame Noor University and Islamic Azad University.The city is also home to a number of conservatories and art schools.
[edit] Art
Numerous festivals are held across the city during the year. Many are small, although others can attract visitors from across the region. The first native literature festival was held in Piranshahr, about 2000 poets and writers from other cities and provinces partipicated in this festival.
[edit] Geography
The Piranshahr area is remarkably rich in native plant species. With its beaches, dunes, wetlands, hills, mountains, and rivers, the area contains a number of important biological communities
According to the Management and planning organization, the city has a total area of 2,259 square miles.
[edit] Demographics
The population of Piranshahr is Kurdish nation.
According to the Piranshahr's organization for Civil Registration the highest average annual growth rate in the province is in Piranshahr [5], on the contrary, in many of the neighburing cities the population is slowly decreasing.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,069, and the median income for a family was $50,465. Males had a median income of $35,511 versus $27,554 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,060. 11.9% of the population and 8.6% of families were below the poverty line. 15.4% of those under the age of 18 and 8.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Muslim adherents of the area are primarily members of the Sunni sect. A large minority from the Shia sect also live in Piranshahr as well as a small number of Christians.
[edit] The Iran-Iraq War
During the Iran-Iraq War it was extensively ravaged by Iraqi forces as a result of Iraqis scorched earth policy. Prior to the war, Piranshahr had grown extensively to become a major border city, and had a population of more than 150,000. The population was predominantly wealthy and educated.
As the Iraqis drew near at the beginning of the war, the Iranian Army evacuated much of the city. In the defense of Piranshahr, the Iranians prepared a series of dykes on the outskirts of the city, the first dyke holding regular soldiers and the second dyke holding tanks, artillery, and antitank weapons. Personnel wise, the Iranian Regular Army was responsible for the city’s external defenses and the Pasdaran were responsible for the center.
[edit] Human Rights
Unfortunately Piranshar occupied by the Iranian regime and there is no democracy or freedom for the Kurdish nation.
[edit] Events
- Since 1982 Piranshar has been occupied by Iranian regime and during the war more than 10, 000 of the Kurdistan's Freedom Fighters (Peshmerge) and civilan Kurds murdered by Iranian army.
- Turkey violated Iranian air space and border in two incidents, including a July 18 1999 air strike on Iranian border outposts near the town of Piranshahr, in which at least five innocent rural people were killed and 11 wounded. [6]
- On Saturday , September 04, 1910, Piranshahr was struck by an earthquake of magnitude 8.1 on the Richter scale, which resulted in a death toll estimated 12,000 and 8,000 people were injured, and leaving another 20,000 homeless. The rescue workers saved more than 4,000 souls.More than one ten thousand housing units were destroyed, together with many buildings.
