Shirvan, North Khorasan, Iran

🇮🇷 Shirvan (شيروان, Shīrvān) is a city in the Central District of Shirvan County, North Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. The city has been significant industrially with sugar beet factories. It is also significant historically (Nader hill), geographically (Honameh), and anthropologically (caves around the city).

Etymology The name of this city branches from the old Persian word, Shīr (شیر, 'Lion'). It might be because of the mountain in the south of the city which looks like a big lion at rest. The history of Shirvan is more than 7000 years old, as archaeologists found some graves in Gelian and Khanlogh (Villages of Shirvan) which are related to Achaemenid Empire era. The city was fortified and strengthened as a fort city during the Safavid era to defend it against hostile raiding Turkmens.

Geography Shirvan is located at a latitude of 37 degrees and 40 minutes and a longitude of 57 degrees and 93 minutes with an altitude of 1097 meters above sea level and an area of 3789 square meters. The city of Ashgabat is bounded on the north by the capital of Turkmenistan, on the south by the city of Esfarayen, on the east by the city of Farooj and on the west by Bojnourd. The city of Shirvan is near the Atrak River. Shirvan, 22 km away, is the closest city to Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan.

Education: University Shirvan Higher Education Complex; Shirvan Health Higher Education Complex; Islamic Azad University, Shirvan Branch; Professor Hesabi Boys' Technical School.

Estarkhi waterfall Estarkhi waterfall is one of the tallest waterfalls in Shirvan region. The length of this waterfall reaches 20 meters. This waterfall is located 40 km south of Shirvan city, on the northern slopes of Shah Jahan mountain range. On the way to reach this waterfall, Golian Cave is also one of the natural attractions of this region.