Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province

Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari Province
استان چهارمحال و بختیاری
Province
Map of Iran with Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari highlighted
Location of Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari within Iran
Coordinates: 32°19′39″N 50°51′17″E / 32.3275°N 50.8546°E / 32.3275; 50.8546Coordinates: 32°19′39″N 50°51′17″E / 32.3275°N 50.8546°E / 32.3275; 50.8546
Country  Iran
Region Region 2 [1]
Capital Shahrekord
Counties 7
Government
 • Governor Qasem Soleimani Dashtaki
Area
 • Total 16,332 km2 (6,306 sq mi)
Population [2]
 • Total 895,263
 • Density 55/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zone IRST (UTC+03:30)
 • Summer (DST) IRST (UTC+04:30)
Main language(s) Bakhtiari Lurish
Persian

Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province (Persian: استان چهارمحال و بختیاری‎‎, Ostān-e Chahār-Mahāl-o Bakhtiyārī ) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It lies in the southwestern part of the country. Its capital is Shahrekord.

The province was put as part of Region 2 upon the division of the provinces into 5 regions solely for coordination and development purposes on June 22nd, 2014.[3]

It has an area of 16,332 square kilometers, and had a population of 895,263 in 2011.[2]

People and culture

Ethnic composition of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari

  Bakhtiari (56.3%)
  Persian (30.5%)
  Qashqai (12.1%)
  I don't know (0.5%)
  Other (0.6%)

The history of the province is tied to that of the Bakhtiari tribe. The Bakhtiari tribe can be divided into two sub-tribes, Haft Lang and Chahar Lang with various territorial affiliations and they are the main speakers of Lurish language. As the name of the province dictates with the combining grammatical feature of "-o-" which is Persian for "and"; the other group of peoples in this ancient province are the Chahar Mahali's. These peoples and the Lur's live side by side and share almost similar customs. Very slight differences exist between them but most are almost unnoticeable. However there is often quite a bit of intermixing of the peoples through marriage. The cities of Shahrekord, Broujen, Ben, Naafch and Saman fall in the Chahar Mahali area of the province and are generally not inhabited by Lurs. The Bakhtiari territories at times have also come under Isfahan and Khuzestan province.

The people of this province have a history of having a simple living and being a capable people who are determined and effective warriors and fighters whenever circumstances made it necessary. They have gained such a reputation as being excellent, if not the best, horsemen in Iran. The people of this province, while having the more common Pahlevani wrestling/combat style of the deep rooted traditional Zurkhane, which exists everywhere in all provinces, also have their own style of wrestling/unarmed combat as well (as do other provinces). The style is called Jangi (Jang means War and hence Jangi "war'ish" or "war like").

The province has various unique traditions and rituals relative to the 'tribal' lifestyles. Special forms of music, dance, and clothing are noteworthy.

Administrative divisions

Counties (Shahrestans)

Map Shahrestan
(≈County) 		Bakhsh
(≈District) 		District Center
Ardal Central Ardal
Miankooh Sarkhun
Boroojen Central Boroojen
Boldaji Boldaji
Gandoman Gandoman
Farsan Central Farsan
Koohrang Central Chelgerd
Bazaft Chaman-Goli
Kiar Central Shalamzar
Naghan Naghan
Lordegan Central Lordegan
Falard Mal-e Khalifeh
Khanmirza Aluni
Manj Manj
Shahr-e Kord Central Shahr-e Kord
Ben Ben
Laran Soureshjan
Saman Saman

Cities and towns

Economy

The province is mainly active in the agriculture sector. Most of the industrial sector is clustered around the center of the province.

The province has the potential to become a vibrant tourist attraction because of its natural resources.

Colleges and universities

References

  1. ↑ همشهری آنلاین-استان‌های کشور به ۵ منطقه تقسیم شدند
  2. 1 2 National Census 2011
  3. ↑ همشهری آنلاین-استان‌های کشور به ۵ منطقه تقسیم شدند

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province.
 Isfahan Province
Khuzestan Province
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Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province
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