Zahedan
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Zahedan زاهدان | |
|---|---|
| قلمرو سرمایه اتحادیه زاهدان Ettehād-ye Khetteh-Khelafah-ye Zâhedân Union Capital Territory of Zahedan | |
 From the top clockwise: Panorama of Zahedan's skyline; Grand Bazaar; Shahid Feredyun Mazar; Nowruz Park; Inqelab Tower | |
 Flag | |
 Location of the Zahedan UCT in Zorasan | |
 | |
| Country |  Zorasan |
| Union Territory | Federal Capital |
| Foundation | ~1123 BC As Sangavar |
| Districts | 10 Districts
|
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| • Body | Common Council |
| • Mayor | Nasser Khosroshahi |
| • Common Council Chairman | Adavazdar Rehbar |
| Area | |
| • Urban | 1,200 km2 (500 sq mi) |
| • Metro | 3,235 km2 (1,249 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 910 m (2,990 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Urban | 10,033,000 |
| • Metro | 17,998,378 |
| Demonym | Zahedani |
| Area code | (+98) 021 |
Zahedan (Pasdani: زاهدان; Zâhedân), officially the Union Capital Territory of Zahedan (قلمرو سرمایه اتحادیه زاهدان; Ettehād-ye Khetteh-Khelafāh-ye Zâhedân), is the capital and largest city of Zorasan. With a population of around 10 million in the city and 17 million in the larger metropolitan area of the Greater Union Territory, Zahedan is the most populous city in Zorasan and in Northern Coius and has the xx-largest metropolitan area in Coius overall. It is ranked XXth in the world by the population of its metropolitan area.
Zahedan has been a major settlement for over two millenia, being founded in 1123 BC by King Pishkar III as Sangavar. The city was renamed to Zahedan in 647 BC following the Devotion of Sangavar during the Rise of Irfan. The city would remain grow to become a prominent centre for commerce, culture and learning throughout ancient history, before emerging as one of the world's largest cities during the early middle ages. The city would suffer during the mid-20th century suffering attacks during the Great War, Solarian War and Pardarian Civil War. Following the unification of Pardaran in wake of the civil war in 1950, the city was rapidly rebuilt and modernised. The advent of industrialisation saw numerous waves of mass migrations and urban expansion, this led to Zahedan becoming of the one of the world's fastest growing cities throughout the 20th century. Arts, music, film, and cultural festivals were established towards the end of the 20th century and continue to be hosted by the city today. Infrastructure improvements have produced a complex transportation network in the city.
Today, the city is one of the largest in Coius and the world, it is the country's economic, political and economic hub, hosting several of the country's largest companies and industries. Zahedan is estimated to produce 18% of Zorasan's gross national product, and is considered to be a global city. In recent years, the city has begun to struggle with overdevelopment, water shortages and air pollution.
Etymology
Upon its founding, the city was initially refered to as Sangavar. Historians have regularly debated the origin of the name Sangavar, though a rising consensus is that the name was a constructed word produced by King Pishkar III, who sought a new capital to represent his person and reign. However, the name Zahedan (زاهدان; Zâhedân) was bestowed upon the city by the Irfanic Prophet Adavazdar in 648 BC, following the Devotion of Sangavar. The city's peaceful surrender and conversion to the Army of Adavazdar is widely accepted as being the origin for the name Zahedan, which derives from the plural of the Pasdani word "zâhid" (زاهد), meaning 'pious'.