Golestan Province in north Iran
24-25 October 1973
Golestan Province, in northeastern Iran near the Caspian Sea, is a region of striking contrasts, where forested mountains give way to broad steppe plains. Its capital, Gorgan, lies about 30 km south of the coast, between the fertile Gorgan Plain and the northern slopes of the Alborz Mountains. The province as a whole is ethnically diverse, including Persians, Mazandaranis, and Turkmens, reflecting its position as a frontier between the Iranian plateau and Central Asia.
Gorgan (formerly Astarabad) is an ancient city with roots stretching back to Achaemenid times. Today it is a regional administrative and commercial centre, surrounded by farmland producing cereals and other crops. The climate is humid and temperate, influenced by the nearby Caspian Sea and mountain barriers, creating lush vegetation compared to much of Iran.
North of Gorgan lies Aqqala (formerly Pahlavidej), set in the flat expanses of the Turkmen Sahra. This area is historically associated with Turkmen tribes, many of whom settled here from the 15th century onward. Aqqala and surrounding districts retain a strong Turkmen identity, with a predominantly Sunni Muslim population, distinctive dress, and Turkic language traditions.
Gorgan (formerly Astarabad) is an ancient city with roots stretching back to Achaemenid times. Today it is a regional administrative and commercial centre, surrounded by farmland producing cereals and other crops. The climate is humid and temperate, influenced by the nearby Caspian Sea and mountain barriers, creating lush vegetation compared to much of Iran.
North of Gorgan lies Aqqala (formerly Pahlavidej), set in the flat expanses of the Turkmen Sahra. This area is historically associated with Turkmen tribes, many of whom settled here from the 15th century onward. Aqqala and surrounding districts retain a strong Turkmen identity, with a predominantly Sunni Muslim population, distinctive dress, and Turkic language traditions.
