Location: Zanjān 🌎

Zanjan (Persian: زنجان, pronounced [zænˈdʒɒːn] ; Azerbaijani: زنگان) is a city in the Central District of Zanjan County, Zanjan province, Iran, and serves as capital of the county and of the province. At the 2006 census, its population was 341,801 in 89,829 households. The following census in 2011 counted 386,851 people in 110,943 households. The latest census in 2016 showed a population of 430,871 people in 132,469 households, making it the 20th largest city in Iran. The population of Zanjan consists mostly of Iranian Azeris who are bilingual in Azerbaijani and Persian.The city lies 298 km (185 mi) northwest of Tehran on the main highway to Tabriz and Turkey, and approximately 125 km (78 mi) from the Caspian Sea. It is about 20 km (12 mi) south of the Qaflankuh Mountain Range. Zanjan is known for its handcrafts such as knives, traditional sandals, called charoogh, and malileh, a handcraft made with silver wires. Zanjani artists make many things like various decorative dishes and their special covers as well as silver jewelry. In ancient times, Zanjan was known for its stainless and sharp knives. But this tradition is gradually becoming extinct by introduction of Chinese-made knives into the market which are far cheaper, more abundant and less artistic. Many villagers today are traditional carpet weavers. Zanjan’s population boasts the highest level of happiness among the people of 30 other provinces in Iran, according to a detailed survey conducted by Isna.