Urumiah
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Urmia ارومیه |
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| city | ||
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| Nickname(s): Paris of Iran, Cradle of Water | ||
 Urmia
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| Coordinates: 37°33′19″N 45°04′21″E / 37.55528°N 45.07250°ECoordinates: 37°33′19″N 45°04′21″E / 37.55528°N 45.07250°E | ||
| Country |
 Iran
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| Region | 3 | |
| Province | West Azerbaijan | |
| County | Urmia | |
| Bakhsh | Central | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Mohammad Hazratpour | |
| • Parliament | Ghazipour, Bahadori & Ruhollah Hazratpour | |
| Elevation | 1,332 m (4,370 ft) | |
| Population (2012) | ||
| • city | 680,228 & 963,738 | |
| • Metro | 1,000,000 | |
| • Population Rank in Iran | ||
| City & County | ||
| Time zone | IRST (UTC+3:30) | |
| • Summer (DST) | IRDT (UTC+4:30) | |
| Area code(s) | 044 | |
| Website | www.urmia.ir | |
Urmia (Azerbaijani: ارومو –ارومیه, Persian: ارومیه (pronounced [oɾumiˈje]) is the largest city in West Azerbaijan province of Iran. Urmia is situated at an altitude of 1,330 m above sea level, and is located along the Shahar Chay river (City River) on the Urmia Plain. Lake Urmia, one of the world's largest salt lakes, lies to the east of the city and the mountainous Turkish border area lies to the west.
Urmia is the 10th most populated city in Iran. At the 2012 census, its population was 667,499 with 197,749 households. The city's inhabitants are predominantly Azerbaijanis, with minorities of Kurds, Armenians and Assyrians. as well as Iran's official language, Persian. The city is the trading center for a fertile agricultural region where fruits (especially apples and grapes) and tobacco are grown.
The Christian history in Urmia, Iran should be noted first. It is highly, and most intricately preserved. Especially seen in the many churches, and cathedrals.
An important town by the 9th century, Urmia was seized by the Seljuk Turks (1084), and later occupied a number of times by the Ottoman Turks. For centuries the city has had a diverse population which has at times included Muslims (Shias and Sunnis), Christians (Catholics, Protestants, Nestorians, and Orthodox), Jews, Bahá'ís and Sufis. Around 1900, Christians made up more than 40% of the city's population, however, most of the Christians fled in 1918 as a result of the Persian Campaign during World War I and the Armenian and Assyrian Genocides.
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Wikipedia