Arak

Iran
Arak, Iran
Photo: Hamid Hajihusseini CC BY 3.0 source

Known across Iran as the "Industrial Capital," Arak is a large city in Markazi province founded during the Qajar era and built from scratch by Yusuf Khan Gorji, who constructed its bazaar, mosques, schools, and water infrastructure within a few years. The city sits among the foothills of the Zagros Mountains, near the Mighan wetland, and has a tradition of carpet-weaving that once rivalled Kerman. Most historic buildings date to the Qajar period.

  • Population503,647
  • Nearest water1.6 km
  • Nearest mountain3.5 km
  • UNESCO within 50 km1