Karaj کرج |
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city | ||
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Coordinates: 35°50′08″N 51°00′37″E / 35.83556°N 51.01028°ECoordinates: 35°50′08″N 51°00′37″E / 35.83556°N 51.01028°E | ||
Country | Iran | |
Province | Alborz | |
County | Karaj | |
Bakhsh | Central | |
Area | ||
• Total | 858 km2 (331 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 1,312 m (4,304 ft) | |
Population (2016 Census) | ||
• Total | 1,973,470 | |
• Density | 2,300/km2 (6,000/sq mi) | |
• Population Rank in Iran | 4th | |
Time zone | IRST (UTC+3:30) | |
• Summer (DST) | IRDT (UTC+4:30) | |
Area code(s) | 026 |
Karaj (Persian: کرج pronunciation pronounced [kæˈɾædʒ]) is the capital of Alborz Province, Iran. Hosting a population around 1.97 million, as recorded in the 2016 census, it is the fourth-largest city in Iran, after Tehran, Mashhad, and Isfahan.
The earliest records of Karaj date back to 30th century BC. The city was developed under the rule of the Safavid and Qajar dynasties, and is home to historical buildings and memorials from those eras. Until the second half of the 20th century, it used to be known mainly as a summer resort. Today, it is a major industrial city, with factories producing sugar, textiles, wire, and alcohol.
Karaj has been hosting communities since 3000 years BC. The Xurvin region of Karaj has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, and the Kelāk region on the left bank of Karaj River since the Iron Age.
The stone built Taxt e Rostam, located on a mount in the west of Šahriār County, was built in the Parthian era as a Zoroastrian fire temple.