TEHRAN (Iran News) A group of journalists had been invited to cover the event which was a good occasion for displaying tourism attractions of East Azarbaijan Province for tourists and during this exhibition the province achieved a global success when UNWTO named Kandovan Village as one of the World Tourism Villages and the success created a joyful and amazing atmosphere in the village and even in the province and the country.

East Azarbaijan, with its blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, is a hidden treasure within Iran. It is located in northwestern part of Iran and it is one of the 31 provinces of the country, bordering Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan, Ardabil province, West Azerbaijan province, and Zanjan province. The capital of the province is Tabriz.

Travelers seeking a unique and enriching experience should consider exploring this province, where the past and present harmoniously coexist. As more people discover the wonders of East Azarbaijan, it’s likely to become a prominent destination on the world tourism map. So, pack your bags and embark on a journey to this less-explored part of Iran, and you’ll be rewarded with unforgettable memories and cultural insights.

This province is a blend of history and n nature and those who enjoy visiting historic sites or enjoy beautiful lanscapes can visit different towns and cities of the province. According to reports the number of tourists visiting this province has exceeded 1.5m people this year and the organizers of the exhibitions were working to promote capabilities and attractions of the province to bring more tourists which will help the economy and social developments in the province.

Tabriz was named World Carpet Weaving City by the World Crafts Council in October 2015 and Exemplary Tourist City of 2018 by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and visitors can enjoy historic and natural sites and places of this historic city.

The city is famous for its handicrafts, including hand-woven rugs and jewelry. Local confectionery, chocolate, dried nuts and traditional Tabrizi food are recognized throughout Iran as some of the best. Some of the most esteemed cultural institutions in Northwest Iran are located in Tabriz, which is also a center for intellectual activity.

Blue Mosque, Arg of Tabriz, Bazaar of Tabriz, Tabriz Municipality as well as El-Golu and museum of the city are of the best places that tourists can enjoy visiting them.

But beauty and history of East Azarbaijan are not limited to Tabriz and every inch of the province has its own history and beauty.

The city of Maragheh is a historic and beautiful city in East Azarbaijan which is situated in a narrow valley running nearly north and south at the eastern end of a well-cultivated plain opening towards Lake Urmia.

The remains of the historic Maragheh observatory crown one of these hills as the city is known is the capital of Iran’s astronomy and it is one of the most visited sites by the foreign tourists during their visits to this province.

The Gonbad-e Modavvar and the Gonbad-e Kabud as well as Mehr Temple are of the historical sites of this city and one should not miss visiting Ilkhani Museum of the city.

Heris is a small town with historic beauty which should not be missed by the tourists and Goyjeh Bael Karvansara which has been registered by the UNESCO is in this town.

Ahar is another town of the province with historic sites like Sheikh Shahabeddin Ahari Museum and enthusiasts of historic works and sites can enjoy it.

But those who like to visit heavenly beauties and nature can move towards the Arsbaran Forest and town of Kaleybar. Kalibar, East Azerbaijan, is an untouched paradise for those seeking a blend of history, nature, and culture. Whether you’re exploring ancient castles, hiking through the Sabalan Mountains, or immersing yourself in the rich cultural tapestry, Kaleybar has something for every traveler. It’s a destination that reveals the enchanting beauties of Iran’s lesser-known treasures, waiting to be explored by intrepid adventurers and culture seekers.

Kaleybar boasts a rich historical heritage that dates back centuries. The town’s historical sites and structures tell tales of ancient civilizations that once thrived in this region.

One of the standout features of Kaleybar is its pristine natural surroundings. The town is set against the stunning backdrop of the Sabalan Mountains, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts and hikers. Sabalan is an extinct volcano and is one of Iran’s highest peaks, offering an adventure for trekkers and mountaineers. The beautiful natural landscapes surrounding Kaleybar are especially captivating in the spring and summer when the valleys are lush and vibrant.

Babak Castle is one of the best historic sites of the town but it has a very amazing eye-catching natural beauty that nobody will be able to ignore it and the writer recommends everyone to visit this natural beauties and even stay in the hotels in this beautiful area.

And the town of Osku where Kandovan Village is located is another town which deserves to be visited by the tourists city because of its historic and natural texture. Kandovan village is the pick of the basket as the village has been recently named as the world tourism village and it can attract many tourists from any part of the world. Kandovan is often referred to as “Little Cappadocia” due to its unique rock houses carved into volcanic rocks. These homes are still inhabited, offering a glimpse into an ancient way of life.

With such huge potentials, the province needs more attention and works from officials for promoting beauties of this province and developing the infrastructures like roads, hotels and other tourism facilities is prerequisite of attracting more tourists.

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Habib Aminzadeh, the head of Industry, Mining and Trade Department of the province, said the commodities have been exported to 97 countries and named mineral fuels, mineral oils, mineral waxes, plastics, cast iron, iron and steel, edible fruits, cereals, flour, milk and confectionery, copper and copper products, sugar, glass and glass products and cocoa and its products as the major exported items.

The official further put the value of imports to the province at $800 million in the previous year and said the imports fell 15 percent in terms of weight and 34 percent in terms of value in the previous year.

As announced by the head of Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), the value of Iran’s non-oil trade stood at $73 billion in the past year.

Mehdi Mir-Ashrafi also put the weight of non-oil trade at 146.4 million tons, and said that the figure shows a 25-million-ton annual decline, which is the result of sanctions and coronavirus pandemic.

Iran’s non-oil export was 112 million tons valued at $34.5 billion, and that of import was 34.4 million tons worth $38.5 billion in the past year, the official added.

Among the country’s non-oil export destinations, China was the first, with importing $8.9 billion worth of products, Iraq was the second with importing $7.3 billion, the United Arab Emirates the third with importing $4.6 billion, Turkey the fourth with importing $2.5 billion, and Afghanistan the fifth with importing $2.2 billion, Mir-Ashrafi announced, and named gasoline, natural gas, polyethylene, propane, and pistachio as Iran’s major exported products during the past year.

He further named Iran’s top sources of non-oil imports in the said time, as China with exporting $9.7 billion worth of products to the Islamic Republic, the UAE with $9.6 billion, Turkey with $4.3 billion, India with $2.1 billion, and Germany with $1.8 billion, respectively, and mentioned corn, cellphone, rice, oil meal and oil seeds, wheat, and raw oil as the major imported items.

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The moderate but deadly Tabriz quake, struck the Tark country at 2:17 a.m. (2247 GMT) Friday and was followed by more than 60 aftershocks, causing panic among residents who rushed out of their houses in the middle of the night.

“Rescue teams and helicopters have been dispatched to the quake-hit areas and hospitals are on full alert to help injured people,” Iran’s emergency medical services chief Pirhossein Kolivand said.

The quake had a shallow depth of 10 km. It hit the village of Varnakesh in Mianeh the hardest, where five people lost their lives and some 30 houses were destroyed, local officials said.

Many people were injured while trying to flee their houses in panic. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC), some 20 million people felt the quake across Iran and possibly in neighboring Turkey.

President Hassan Rouhani called the local governor, ordering to allocate all means and resources to deal with the emergency due to deadly Tabriz quake. He also sent his Minister of Industry, Mines and Business Reza Rahmani to the quake-hit areas to closely monitor the situation.

Volunteer Basij forces rushed to villages shortly after the quake hit and pulled many survivors from the rubble, commander of 31st Ashura Division of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) General Abedin Khorram said.

“Given that a drill was being held in Mianeh, Basij forces were immediately dispatched to the quake-hit areas and rescued the villagers who were under the debris,” he told the Tasnim news agency.

Army units in northwestern provinces of East Azarbaijan and Ardabil have also been put on alert for rescue and relief operations.

Iran experiences frequent seismic activity as it sits where two major tectonic plates meet.

The earthquakes have some times turned disastrous over the past years. In 2003, more than 26,000 people lost their lives following a major quake that decimated the ancient city of Bam in eastern Iran. In 1990, a 7.4-magnitude quake in northern Iran killed thousands of people.

At least three other significant quakes stuck in 2005, 2012, and 2017, which killed over 1,000 people.

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Heading a high-ranking delegation, including some cabinet members, Rouhani will arrive in Tabriz, East Azarbaijan, on Thursday, Mohammad Reza Pour-Mohammadi told Tasnim.

During the president’s visit to the province, a number of major development projects totally valued at 100,000 billion rials (about $2.4 million) will be inaugurated, he stated.

He further described the launch of water projects in border areas as the most important programs on the agenda of Rouhani’s trip to East Azarbaijan Province.

The governor went on to say that the first phase of the combined cycle power plant of Heris County in the province with a capacity to produce 300 megawatts of electricity will also be inaugurated.

In February 2018, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardekanian highlighted the country’s self-sufficiency in the area of power generation and said the Islamic Republic is the top producer of electricity in the Middle East.

About 90 percent of power generation equipment, even complicated parts like turbines and generators, are currently manufactured inside the country, the energy minister told reporters at the time.

He added that Iran’s capabilities in the area of power generation have developed over the past four decades so much that the country has become the top producer of electricity in the region.

“At present, we have energy exchanges with all the countries that share land borders with us,” he said.

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