Ahar

---

title: "Ahar" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cities-in-east-azerbaijan-province", "populated-places-in-ahar-county"] description: "City in East Azerbaijan province, Iran" topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahar" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary City in East Azerbaijan province, Iran ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name	Ahar
native_name
native_name_lang	fa
settlement_type	City
image_skyline	فیروزه قره داغ.jpg
image_caption	Sheikh Shahab tomb in the city of Ahar
pushpin_map	Iran
coordinates
coordinates_footnotes
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	Iran
subdivision_type1	Province
subdivision_name1	East Azerbaijan
subdivision_type2	County
subdivision_name2	Ahar
subdivision_type3	District
subdivision_name3	Central
unit_pref	Metric
population_footnotes
population_as_of	2016
population_total	100641
population_density_km2	auto
timezone	IRST
utc_offset	+3:30
website
::

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::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Aqdash_June_2011.jpg" caption="Aqdash]] was the resting place of muleteers who carried charcoal to Ahar."] ::

Ahar () is a city in the Central District of Ahar County, East Azerbaijan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Ahar was the capital of Karadag Khanate in 18th and 19th centuries.

History

Ahar is one of the ancient cities of the Azerbaijan region, its name before Islam was "meimad". In the 12th-13th centuries, Ahar was a minor and short-lived, but prosperous emirate ruled by the Pishteginid dynasty of Georgian origin (1155—1231). Yaqut al-Hamawi, writing in early thirteenth century, describes Ahar as very flourishing despite its small extent.

The city lost most of its importance during the rule of Ilkhanate. Hamdallah Mustawfi, writing in mid fourteenth century, describes Ahar as a little town. He estimates the tax revenue of the town to be comparable to that of Mardanaqom, which presently is a medium-sized village.

Ahar was in the focus of Safavid's agenda for casting of Azerbaijan as a Safavid dominion. Thus, Shah Abbas I rebuilt the mausoleum of Sheikh Sheikh Shihab-al-din in Ahar.

Ahar suffered enormously during the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813 and Russo-Persian War of 1826–1828. Western travelers in 1837-1843 period had found Ahar, a city with around 700 households, in wretched condition. Their impression was that the Qajar princes, who were dispatched as the governors of Qaradagh hastened to collect as much wealth as possible before their removal.

Ahar was one of the epicenters of Persian Constitutional Revolution due to the involvement of Arasbaran tribes in armed conflicts; the revolutionary and ati-revolutionary camps were headed, respectively, by Sattar Khan and Rahimkhan Chalabianloo, both from Qaradağ region. When in 1925 Rezā Shāh deposed Ahmad Shah Qajar and founded the Pahlavi dynasty, Ahar's gradual decline started. The new king insisted on ethnic nationalism and cultural unitarism and implemented his policies with forced detribalization and sedentarization. He renamed Qaradağ as Arasbaran to deny the Turkic identity of the inhabitants. This policy, in particular, resulted in suppression of ethnic Azeris.

For further information on the history of Ahar and Arasbaran region one may consult the following scholarly books (all in Persian language):

• H. Bayburdi "The history of Arasbaran",
• Ḥusayn Dūstī, "The history and geography of Arasbaran",
• N. Sedqi, "The contemporary political and social history of Arasbaran",
• S.R. Alemohammad, "The book of Arasbaran".

Two concise English language articles are the following:

• "The Tribes of Qarāca Dāġ: A Brief History" by P. Oberling.
• The entry "AHAR", in Encyclopædia Iranica.

Demographics

Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 85,782 in 20,844 households. The following census in 2011 counted 92,608 people in 24,810 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 100,641 people in 30,129 households.

Overview

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Sabalan02.JPG" caption="Mount [[Sabalan]] is in the proximity of Ahar"] ::

In the wake of the Russo-Persian War (1804–13) and with 3,500 inhabitants, Ahar was the only city of Qaradağ. Around the mid-1830s, the population was estimated to be from five to six thousand inhabitants in about 600 houses. By 1956 the population had increased to 19,816. At the 2016 census, its population had increased to over 100,000. Despite this population boom, the city has been losing its former importance to the much smaller neighboring Kaleybar, as the latter is gaining nationwide fame as a tourist destination.

Climate

|width=auto |metric first=yes |single line = yes |location = Ahar(normals and extremes 1991-2020) elevation:1391 | Jan record high C =17.4 | Feb record high C =21.0 | Mar record high C =26.4 | Apr record high C =31.0 | May record high C =33.6 | Jun record high C =39.0 | Jul record high C =39.4 | Aug record high C =40.0 | Sep record high C =35.4 | Oct record high C =30.3 | Nov record high C =23.2 | Dec record high C =20.5 | Jan high C =4.2 | Feb high C =5.8 | Mar high C =11.0 | Apr high C =16.6 | May high C =21.7 | Jun high C =26.5 | Jul high C =28.6 | Aug high C =28.7 | Sep high C =25.0 | Oct high C =19.5 | Nov high C =11.6 | Dec high C =6.5 | Jan mean C =-0.5 | Feb mean C =0.7 | Mar mean C =5.1 | Apr mean C =10.3 | May mean C =15.0 | Jun mean C =19.6 | Jul mean C =22.4 | Aug mean C =22.1 | Sep mean C =18.0 | Oct mean C =12.6 | Nov mean C =5.9 | Dec mean C =1.6 | Jan low C =-4.7 | Feb low C =-3.6 | Mar low C =0.1 | Apr low C =4.6 | May low C =8.6 | Jun low C =12.4 | Jul low C =15.7 | Aug low C =15.5 | Sep low C =11.8 | Oct low C =7.1 | Nov low C =1.4 | Dec low C =-2.4 | Jan record low C =-23.2 | Feb record low C =-20.5 | Mar record low C =-18.4 | Apr record low C =-15.8 | May record low C =-4.0 | Jun record low C =2.6 | Jul record low C =7.8 | Aug record low C =7.0 | Sep record low C =1.5 | Oct record low C =-3.5 | Nov record low C =-16.6 | Dec record low C =-19.2 | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm =18.3 | Feb precipitation mm =21.1 | Mar precipitation mm =33.8 | Apr precipitation mm =45.0 | May precipitation mm =48.3 | Jun precipitation mm =22.6 | Jul precipitation mm =8.6 | Aug precipitation mm =6.2 | Sep precipitation mm =11.0 | Oct precipitation mm =24.5 | Nov precipitation mm =27.5 | Dec precipitation mm =19.5 | Jan precipitation days =4.1 | Feb precipitation days =4.8 | Mar precipitation days =6.5 | Apr precipitation days =8.2 | May precipitation days =8.9 | Jun precipitation days =3.8 | Jul precipitation days =1.9 | Aug precipitation days =1.2 | Sep precipitation days =2 | Oct precipitation days =3.8 | Nov precipitation days =4.7 | Dec precipitation days =4 | Jan humidity =65 | Feb humidity =64 | Mar humidity =61 | Apr humidity =61 | May humidity =61 | Jun humidity =53 | Jul humidity =49 | Aug humidity =49 | Sep humidity =57 | Oct humidity =59 | Nov humidity =64 | Dec humidity =64 | Jan dew point C =-6.9 | Feb dew point C =-6.0 | Mar dew point C =-2.9 | Apr dew point C =1.7 | May dew point C =6.2 | Jun dew point C =8.6 | Jul dew point C =10.2 | Aug dew point C =9.9 | Sep dew point C =8.1 | Oct dew point C =3.6 | Nov dew point C =-1.4 | Dec dew point C =-5.2

| Jan sun =168 | Feb sun =164 | Mar sun =179 | Apr sun =188 | May sun =248 | Jun sun =301 | Jul sun =312 | Aug sun =304 | Sep sun =256 | Oct sun =211 | Nov sun =167 | Dec sun =162

|source = NOAA NCEI

|width=auto |metric first=yes |single line = yes |location = Ahar(1986-2010 normals) | Jan high C =3.3 | Feb high C =4.9 | Mar high C =10.0 | Apr high C =16.3 | May high C =21.0 | Jun high C =25.9 | Jul high C =28.1 | Aug high C =28.3 | Sep high C =24.8 | Oct high C =19.0 | Nov high C =11.6 | Dec high C =6.1 | Jan mean C =-0.8 | Feb mean C =0.4 | Mar mean C =4.8 | Apr mean C =10.4 | May mean C =14.6 | Jun mean C =19.0 | Jul mean C =21.8 | Aug mean C =21.9 | Sep mean C =18.1 | Oct mean C =13.1 | Nov mean C =6.6 | Dec mean C =1.9 | Jan low C =-4.9 | Feb low C =-4.0 | Mar low C =-0.3 | Apr low C =4.5 | May low C =8.2 | Jun low C =12.1 | Jul low C =15.4 | Aug low C =15.4 | Sep low C =11.5 | Oct low C =7.1 | Nov low C =1.6 | Dec low C =-2.4 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm =16.8 | Feb precipitation mm =19.1 | Mar precipitation mm =32.9 | Apr precipitation mm =45.2 | May precipitation mm =48.9 | Jun precipitation mm =23.8 | Jul precipitation mm =6.7 | Aug precipitation mm =6.2 | Sep precipitation mm =12.7 | Oct precipitation mm =26.9 | Nov precipitation mm =26.4 | Dec precipitation mm =19.6 | Jan snow days =8.0 | Feb snow days =8.2 | Mar snow days =7.6 | Apr snow days =2.0 | May snow days =0.2 | Jun snow days =0 | Jul snow days =0 | Aug snow days =0 | Sep snow days =0 | Oct snow days =0.7 | Nov snow days =3.1 | Dec snow days =6.8 | Jan dew point C =-7.0 | Feb dew point C =-6.7 | Mar dew point C =-3.4 | Apr dew point C =1.5 | May dew point C =5.7 | Jun dew point C =8.6 | Jul dew point C =10.5 | Aug dew point C =11.0 | Sep dew point C =7.7 | Oct dew point C =3.4 | Nov dew point C =-1.4 | Dec dew point C =-5.0 | Jan sun =158.6 | Feb sun =162.9 | Mar sun =173.3 | Apr sun =179.3 | May sun =246.7 | Jun sun =292.7 | Jul sun =311.6 | Aug sun =298.5 | Sep sun =252.6 | Oct sun =204.1 | Nov sun =161.5 | Dec sun =155.8

|source = IRIMO(Temperatures)

• (Precipitation) (Snow and Sleet days)(Sun)(Dew Point 1986-2005)

Economy

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Balan_(Kaleybar)_Rug_2.jpg" caption="Balan]] Rug; An example of carpets which used to be sold in Ahar's bazar."] ::

Until the early 1960s Ahar was the economic hub of Arasbaran region. Arasbaran nomadic tribes bartered their produce in Ahar's bazaar. The charcoal produced in villages adjacent to Arasbaran forests was carried by muleteers to Ahar and from there was transported to Tabriz. In addition, Ahar was a distribution center for the Arasbaran rug. The gradual settlement of nomads, widespread use of fossil fuels, changing life-styles, and establishment of new marketplaces such as Kaleybar through facilitated transportation, have diminished Ahar's economical importance.

Tourism

The main tourist site in the city is the mausoleum of Sheikh Shaabe-deen, who was the teacher of Safi-ad-din Ardabili, the founder of the family of Safavid dynasty. The monument has been described by James Morier in early nineteenth century as the following, "The mausoleum is of brick, with a foundation of stone, and faced by an elevated portico, flanked by two minors or pillars encrusted with green tiles. A little wooden door was opened for us in the back of the building, which introduced us into the spot that contained the tomb of the Sheikh, which was enclosed by a stone railing, carved into open work, and surrounded by a sculptured arabesque ornament, of very good taste. The tomb is distinguished by a marble cover, on which is an Arabic inscription in relieve.".

Notable people

• Sattar Khan, leader of the constitutionalist rebels, considered the national hero of Iran
• Amir Arshad, military commander and leader of the Haji-Alilu tribe
• Vahid Najafi Nakhjevanlou (born 1988), writer, researcher and environmental activist
• Abu Bakr Qutbi, 14th-century historian

Gallery

File:Arasbaran by Amirgtt64.jpg|Arasbaran forests in the vicinity of Ahar (Kaleibar county) Image:Sab dalj1.JPG|Ahar town lies on the north-west face of Mount Sabalan

Notes

References

References

1. ((OpenStreetMap contributors)). (1 September 2024). "شله بران, دهستان بزکش, بخش مرکزی [Sholeh Boran, Bozkosh Rural District, Central District], Ahar County, 54516-43361, Iran".
2. "F3H8+VQP Ahar, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran".
3. {{GEOnet3. -3051923
4. Hassan. Habibi. fa. تاریخ تصویب (Approval date) 1369/06/21 (Iranian Jalali calendar). (12 September 1990 ). link. fa. لام تا کام [Lam ta Kam]. {{lang. fa. ‌وزارت کشور [Ministry of the Interior]. fa. کمیسیون سیاسی دفاعی هیأت دولت [Political Defense Commission of the Government Board]. fa. شناسه [ID] 2F97A0C4-C95C-4D40-9B57-0BFDC9DC6683. {{lang. fa. شماره دوره [Course number] 69, {{lang. fa. شماره جلد [Volume number] 3.
5. "شهرداری اهر :: Ahar Muiciple - فرهنگ و آداب و رسوم".
6. [[Vladimir Minorsky. Minorsky, Vladimir]] (1951), "The Georgian Maliks of Ahar." ''BSOAS'' vol. 13/4, pp. 868-77.
7. Yaqut ibn 'Abd Allah al-Rumi al-Hamawi, Charles Adrien Casimir Barbier de Meynard, Dictionnaire géographique, historique et littéraire de la Perse et des contrees adjacentes, 1851, Paris, p. 57
8. نزهةالقلوب ، حمداله مستوفی ، به کوشش محمد دبیر سیاقی ، انتشارات کتابخانه طهوری ، چاپ اول ، تهران ، ۱۳۳۶، ص. ۹۵.
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16. Oberling, Pierre. "The Tribes of Qarāca Dāġ: A Brief History." Oriens 17 (1964): 60-95
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21. Bibliothèque orientale Elzévirienne, Volume 52; Volume 55, 1887 p.224.
22. [[Robert Mignan]], A Winter Journey Through Russia, the Caucasian Alps, and Georgia: Thence ..., Vol. 1, 1839, London
23. "Archived copy".
24. "World Meteorological Organization climate normals for 1991-2020: Ahar". [[NOAA]].
25. "MONTHLY TOTAL OF PRECIPITATION IN MM. STATION AHAR (40704)". IRIMO.
26. "NO. OF DAYS WITH SNOW OR SLEET STATION AHAR (40704)". IRIMO.
27. "MONTHLY TOTAL OF SUNSHINE HOURS STATION AHAR (40704)". IRIMO.
28. "AVERAGE OF DEW POINT TEMPERATURE IN C. STATION AHAR (40704)". IRIMO.
29. James Morier, A second journey through Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor, to Constantinople ..., 1818, p. 234
30. Ervand Abrahamian, Iran Between Two Revolutions, Princeton University Press, 1982 p.97
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33. نصرت الله فتحى،"ديدار همرزم ستارخان" ،گوتنبرگ ۱۹۷۳
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35. رحيم رئيسنيا، عبد الحسين ناهيد،"دو مبارز جنبش مشروطه: ستار خان، محمد خيابانى", ۱۹۷۰، انتشارات آگاه.
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37. Stephanie Cronin, 'The Making of Modern Iran: State and Society Under Riza Shah, 1921-1941', 2007, p. 207
38. آسیا, روزنامه. "وحید نجفی نخجوانلو، پژوهشگر و نویسنده برتر جغرافیای سیاسی ایران".

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