The Province of Lurestan
Geographical Position
Lurestan province situated to the west of Iran covers an area of 28,392 sq. km. The townships of this province are as follows: Khoram Abad, Borujerd, Aligoodarz, Dorood, Koohdasht, Azna, Delfan, Selseleh and Pol-e-Dokhtar. Khoram Abad is the center of the province. To the north it has common borders with the Markazil province and Hamadan province, to the south is Khuzestan province, to the east is Esfahan province and to the west are the provinces of Kermanshah and Ilam.
In the year 1996, this province had a population of approximately 1.6 million, of which about 53.6% resided in the urban areas, 45.3% in the rural areas and the rest were non-residents. Lurestan province is a mountainous region.
The highest most area is the 'Oshtoran Kooh' region at an altitude of 4,050 m. The low-lying areas being in the southern most sector of the province, approximately 500 m. above sea-level.
Climate
Climatically, the province can be divided into three parts: the mountainous regions, such as Borujerd, Dorood, Azna, Noor Abad and Alishtar experience cold winters and moderate summers. In the central region, the spring season begins from mid-February and lasts till about mid May. The township of Khoram Abad is in this realm. The southern area is under the influence of the warm air currents of Khuzestan, have hot summers and relatively moderate winters. For example, Pol-e-Dokhtar and Papi.
History and Culture
Lurestan province is one of the oldest territories of Iran. In the third and fourth millennium BC, immigrant tribes settled down in the mountainous area of the Zagross and the region of 'Bain-ol-Nahrain' (the current Dorood area). According to the records, the said tribes were the 'Lulubi', 'Mana'ie', 'Kasie', 'Gootie', 'Amada' and 'Parsoa' tribes or clans. In the second millennium BC,the Kasie tribes were made extinct due to the attack of the forceful government of Ilam.
During the conquest of Alexander to Iran, this territory came under their jurisdiction. During the Sassanian reign, the 'Pasth Kooh' and 'Pisht Kooh' territories came under the rule of one of the members of the reputed 'Hormozan' family. In the year 21 AH, after the conquest of 'Halvan', the Arabs ruled over the northern area and Nahavand and parts of southern Lurestan. In the year 22 AH 'Hossnooyeh-e-Kord' brought this territory under his own jurisdiction, till the year 500 AH.
On Mongols gaining control in Iran, Lurestan was divided into two parts. 'Lur-e-Bozorg' and 'Lur-e-Koochak' (greater and smaller Lurestan).
The 'Attabakan' or 'Lords' of the 'Lur-e-Bozorg' ruled in this area from about the first half of the 8th century AH, till the first half of the 9th century. The 'Attabakan of the 'Lor-e-Koochak' ruled here from 508-1006 AH, till the Safavid era, when Shah Abbas proved victorious and Lurestan came under the hands of an 'Amir' named 'Hussein' which lasted till the 'Qajar dynasty'. After which Lurestan at times came under the rulers of both Borujerd and Shooshtar.
In Iran, Lurestan province, from the earliest times holds its own in respect to culture. Some researchers claim that the Lorans are a branch of the Iranian race who migrated to this region from east of Caspian Sea in the beginning of the first millennium BC.
The current inhabitants of Lurestan have intermingled with the Bakhtiaris and the Kords. The language of the inhabitants of the province being 'lori' and 'laki'. The Lakas have mainly settled in Koohdasht and Alishtar and the Lurs around Khoram Abad. Their 'dialect' being special in grammar and words.
Other links:
Natural Attractions of Mahallat
History and Culture, Kermanshah
Lake Urmia , Photo Gallery
The Province of Qazvin
The province of Qom
Kish Island
