Piranshahr
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Piranshahr(Persian:پیرانشهر , Kurdish:Xanê (trans. Khane)) is a city located in West Azarbaijan province in northwest of Iran. The persian name means City of Piran and seems to be derived from the name of the local Kurdish tribe of Piran. The population of the city was around 109,000 inhabitants in 2005[1]. 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 life style and move from one place to the other depending on seasonal changes.
Piranshahr is on the border towns between Iran and Iraq, and the high mountains of Siyah Kooh and Sipan lie respectively to the northwest and south. The River Zaab takes its source 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.
Human rights
In 04.04.2004, Piranshahr's Sunni population protest over book. (Iranian newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami)
The Truth About the Penetration in the Religion , by Yaqubeddin Rastegar Juybari, led to protests by a number of Sunni inhabitants of Piranshahr and in Sunni-inhabited areas of West Azarbayjan Province. In this book, the sanctities of the Sunnis are insulted and the union between the Shiites and Sunnis is disapproved. In a statement, the Sunni clergy of Piranshahr have requested that the author of this book be punished. It is said that 20,000 copies of this book were distributed during the Nowruz holidays in the Sunni- inhabited areas of West Azarbayjan Province. In a meeting with the Sunni clergy of that region, the governor of Piranshahr has promised to follow up the case with the Kurd deputies in the Islamic Consultative Majlis and to ask the Minister of Islamic Culture and Guidance to provide explanations in this regard.
Climate
Piranshahr, like much of the neighburing cities, has a climate which is prone to variable weather. The city experiences four distinct seasons. In July the warmest month, high temperatures average 84 °F (29 °C), and low temperatures 63 °F (17 °C). In January, the coldest month, High temperatures average 29 °F (-2 °C), with low temperatures averaging 13 °F (-11 °C).
Piranshahr's yearly precipitation averages about 38 inches (965 mm). 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 109°F (44°C) on July 24, 1935. The highest official temperature ever recorded is 105°F (42°C) on July 17, 1995 during the Piranshahr Heat Wave. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Piranshahr is -27°F (-33°C) on January 20, 1985. On December 24, 1983, the high temperature at Piranshahr reached only -11°F (-23°C), and on July 30, 1916, the low temperature sank to only 84°F (29°C), both of which are records.
Winter in Piranshahr is a variable and fickle season. The average Piranshahr winter produces 37.0 inches (940 mm) of snow. This number can prove unreliable, as Piranshahr winters have produced between 9.8 and 87.0 inches (249 and 2210 mm) of snow. Snow tends to fall in light accumulations of around 2 inches (50.8 mm), but about once per year Piranshahr experiences a storm that can produce 10 to 14 inches (254 to 356 mm) of snow in one day. Temperatures can vary wildly within the span of one week, but extended periods of temperatures below 32°F (0°C) are not uncommon in January and February. The temperature in January averages about 25°F (-4°C) in the afternoon, and 10°F (-12°C) at night. Temperatures can be expected to drop below 0°F (-18°C) on 15 days throughout the winter season. Although rare, temperatures in Piranshahr even in the middle of winter can reach 50°F (10°C).
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.
Economy
The Piranshahr economy includes that of the City of Piranshahr and the surrounding towns and villages of Piranshahr area.The Piranshahr area is an engine of the provincial economy.The city of Piranshahr 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 Piranshahr.
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 7000 Hectares, 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: [2]:
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.
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.
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.
Demographics
Piranshahr is a biethnic/bilinguistic city.The city's population is a combination of Turkish 10.4% and Kurdish 89.6% peoples.The main languages spoken in the city are Turkish and Kurdish.
According to the Piranshahr's organization for Civil Registration the highest average annual growth rate in the province is in Piranshahr [3], nn 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.
Law and government
Mayor: Abdollah Esmaili
Governor: Abbas Hassankhani
Friday prayer: Mostafa Mahmoudi
Majlis representative: Hassel Dasseh
