Professor Soltanzadeh



The Province of Yazd

Yazd Province, with an area of 70011 Sq.Km.is situated in the margin of Kavir at the center of Iran and is bounded on the north and west with Isfahan province; on the north-east by Korasan province; on the south-west by fars province; and on the south-east by Kerman province.
Covering an area of 16330 Sq.Km.,at altitude of 1203 meters from sea-level,lies the city of Yazd. In a wide dry vally between the two mountains of Shirkuh,the highest mountain of the region with the height of 4075 m., and Kharanegh. This makes the city tolerate a semi-plain climate, of dry hot-summer and dry cold winters. Due to this particular natural conditions, the water is supplied through 1751 Qanats and deep wells.Because of such shortage and deficiency of water, the province has a tendency for industry ratherthan agriculture of zone.For this reason, textile industries and handicrafts in this province have had considerable progress among which cashmeres, carpets and pileless rugs,etc... are to be mentioned. Yazd is Known as the capital of Kavir. The name of Yazd appears in historical documents for the first time along with the name of Chitar Tokhmeh who was one of the adversaries of Dariush.Historain have used the original construction of the city goes to the pre-Islamic period.
One of the most ancient cities of Iran,stayed Zoroastrians during the time of Islam by paying the levy.This continued on until gradual influence of Islam, but Yazd has always been held concecrated by the Zoroastrians even now. There exist a temple in the city known as the "Atashkadeh".
	Some authorities are of opinion that "Yazd" was built by Yazdgered of the sassanide dynasty. The name has been derived from the name of "Yazdgerd" coming from the word "Yazdesh" meaning worship in common Persian of the day. For this reason even after Islam and conversation of the people, the name "Darolebadeh" meaning the "place of worship" was given to this city.

Special climate conditions of the region has constranied the people of this province to observe and follow a particular architectural style, peculiar to these types of arease in such manner that old part of Yazd is mostly built of sun-dried bricks and mud,and it's walls is plastered with clay and straw.
This from of architecture helps to curtail the intensity of heat and cold so that the summer heat of kavir could be bearable. Old buildings are eye-catching with their wind-catcher (Badgir), which acts as natural ventilators. These high ventilation shafts are typical architectural features of this region. Yazd is very famous in Iran for its various handicrafts, such as carpet, silk fabrics, cashemeres and also for it's pastries.