Takab
A city that is one of the most important cities of West Azerbaijan province in terms of monuments, natural attractions and valuable mines around it, is called Takab. Another name of this county is Tikan Tapa. It is a mountainous region with the partly cold weather, also this city situated at a height of 1765 meters above the sea level. This city is limited to the East Azerbaijan province from the north, Kurdistan province from the south, Shahin Dezh from the west and Zanjan province from the east. The county consists of two districts named “Takht-e Soleiman” and “Markazi”. The local peoples are predominantly Iranian Azerbaijanis who speak the Azerbaijani language, Kurdi Surani and Kurdi Kurmanji as well as Farsi.
Description
In this city, handicraft such as carpet weaving, Glim, Jajim and prayer rug (Sajadeh) are the other economic activities of people in this region. The city has long been one of the centers for production of the famous Afshar rugs. Weaving inthis city flourished in the Safavid era. Numerous mines such as Zarshouran mine (the biggest gold mine of Iran), the big and active gold mine of Aghdare (the second gold mine of Iran) in this region are the causes to rank the city first in terms of gold production in Iran. Most of the people who speak in Kurdish in this region are the followers of Shafei religion and some of them are the followers of Ahl-e Hagh.
Shiz is the ancient name used during Persian Empire for this city. In Persian language, Takab means one narrow water way. Tak means one or alone and Ab means water. This city was originally known as Tikan Tape by its native Turkic Afshar people until 1941 when Iran's Academy of Persian Language and Literature officially changed it to current name. Afshar people are one of the Oghuz Turkic peoples. These originally nomadic Oghuz tribes moved from Central Asia and initially settled in Iranian Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan republic and Eastern Turkey.
Attractions of Takab
Takht e Soleyman is the most important historical and tourism attractions of this city. The famous historical complex Takhte Soleyman world heritage is situated to the North-East of the city. It was one of oldest Zoroastrian fire temples during the Sassanid Dynasty and had the name Azargoshnasp. The remnants of which remains within a rampant, in addition to a natural spring and a large pool. It is believed that the city of Sheez stood here.
