In Mazandaran, including 22 counties and Sari city as its center, common languages are Tabari (a Mazandarani dialect) and Farsi. The Alborz mountain ranges comprising Mount Damavand as the highest peak of the Iranian Plateau with the height of 5,671 meters, cover the southern margin of Mazandaran.

The Alborz Mountain is of particular interest to domestic and foreign climbers. Geographically, it keeps the Mazandaran’s climate temperate and humid as it avoids like a dam the entry of humidity of the Caspian Sea to the central parts of the country. This has also created vast jungles, rivers, and wetlands across the province.

Historically, two very old and powerful tribes lived on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea: Tapours and Amardi, from which the names of Tabarestan and Amol city are driven. During the Parthian Dynasty (247 B.C.- 224 A.D.) and by the order of the king Phraates I, Amardi tribe moved to Khar (current Varamin city) from the Mazandaran area and Tapours tribe took control of the area that belonged to them originally.

Later, the area fell to the hands of the Sasanian rulers (224-651) and in some periods after the advent of Islam, non-local conquerors from different dynasties took control of Mazandaran or some parts of it. These dynasties include Tahirid (821-873), Saffarid (861-1003), Samanid (819-999), Ziyarid (930-1090), Ghaznavid (977-1186), Seljuk (1037-1194), Khwarazmian (1077-1231), Mongols (1206-1368), Sarbadar (1337-1381), and Timurid (1370-1507). During the Safavid era (1501-1736), Shah Ismail I sent a troop to Mazandaran but the definitive capture of the area happened by Shah Abbas I. Upon his order, the royal palace and complex of Safi Abad were built in present Behshahr city. At the time of its construction, the palace was called Ashraf.

The coastal cities such as Chalus, Ramsar, Nour, Nowshahr, Babolsar, and Mahmud Abad, jungle areas around Ramsar, Nour and Damavand Mount and summit, Badab Soort Spring, Alimestan Jungle, Babol Palace, Veresk Bridge, Fereydunkenar Wetland, and Nima Youshij House (poet) are the main attractions of the province.

Also, the historical garden of Abbas Abad near Behshahr has been registered as the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Among the local handicrafts of Mazandaran province, we can mention woodcarving, Moaragh (a kind of woodwork), mosaic, Bamboo, and mat weaving, Kilim, Jajim, tablecloth, the bedcover, scarf, socks, knife, and plate. A variety of jam and syrup especially orange blossom jam, raspberries, sour cherries, oranges, and pickles are among the common souvenirs of Mazandaran. Native foods often include a mixture of rice, fish, and vegetables.

Finally, Nima Youshij (poet- father of Iran’s modern poetry) and Manouchehr Sotoudeh (contemporary geographer and scholar) are among the famous figures of Mazandaran province.

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The Alborz Mountains cover a large part of the south and southwest of the province, while Turkmen Plains (Turkmen Sahra) surrounds its north with Kūh-e Gāv Koshān as the highest point. The climate of Golestan varies widely in different seasons such that the southern and western parts have mountainous, frigid, and semi-arid climates, while the northern areas are temperate and humid.

Before the advent of Islam, Golestan province was one of the oldest, largest and most developed lands in the northwest of Iran. In the middle of the second millennium B.C., this area was the main center of the Aryan civilization, known as Hirkani (Hyrcanian) during the Achaemenid Empire (550-330 B.C.).

There are many historical monuments in these areas including the remains of Alexander’s wall (dam) with an approximate length of 155 km referring to the Sassanid Empire (224-651 A.D.).This dam was built to prevent the invasion of the northern tribes. After the Muslim conquest of Persia in 651 A.D., the Samanid (819-999), Buyid (934-1062), and Ziyarid (930-1090) dynasties ruled over the area. The tomb of Qabus ibn Wushmagir, one of the Ziyarid Sultans still exists near the ruins of the ancient city of Jorjan. This area was widely known as Gorgan until the seventh century but it was later called Esterabad during the seventh to fourteenth centuries.

Golestan province contains various natural and historical attractions, tempting many foreign and domestic tourists to visit it. The main attractions of the province include Caspian Sea shores, Gulf of Gorgan, Miankaleh peninsula, Khalid Nabi shrine, historical cemetery, Ziart waterfall, Kaboud-Val waterfall, Nahkarkhoran forest, Emadieh school of Gorgan, historical bridge of Aqqala, Miran castle, Seyyed Gelich Ishan Mosque and school, Naftiljeh mud volcano, and the Gonbad-e Qabus Tower.

Gonbad-e-Qabus tower has been registered as the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In terms of handicrafts, silk weaving, Plaas Bafi (kind of floor mat), Jajim, carpets and rugs of Turkmen, Khorjin, Kilim, and needlecraft could be found in Golestan. However, the province’s souvenirs mostly include caviar, fish, citrus, kiwi, honey, silk, carpet, rug, Turkmen backrest, and Jajim. Furthermore, native dishes include Chakdormeh (Traditional Turkmen rice), Manty, Tomato Aush, mung bean Aush, Aush-e-Heli, Aush-e-Kei, Aush-e- Siyah Sholeh, Kumeh Lakey Borek (Borek of mushroom), Pusigh, Chafati, Akmak, and Potato Borek. When it comes to prominent celebrities, we can mention to Fakhruddin As’ad Gurgani (Poet), Mir Damad (Philosopher), Mir Fendereski (Philosopher), and Magtymguly Pyragy (also known as Ferdowsi of Turkmen Sahra, a poet, and spiritual leader).

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