Stage 2 - Ardabil

23 February 2012

Stage 2 - Ardabil - Nir

Stage 2 (15th May 2011) Ardebil - Nir - Ardebil (TTT) 50km

From:	Ardebil
To:	Nir
Distance:	50 km

About Ardabil

Ardabil (Persian and Azerbaijani: اردبیل ) is a historical city in north-western Iran. The name Ardabil probably comes from the Zoroastrian name of "Artavil" which means a holy place. Ardabil is the center of Ardabil Province. Its population is estimated to be around 340,386, the dominant majority of whom are ethnic Azerbaijanis. Notable for its silk and carpet trade tradition, the ancient Ardabil Carpets are considered some of the best of the classical Persian Rug creations. Ardabil is also known as the seat of a World Heritage Site: the sanctuary and tomb of Shaikh Safi ad-Din, eponym of the Safavid Dynasty.

The province is located on the north of Tabriz Zanjan road, north of Qezel ozan and west of Talesh ranges, characterized by Sabalan voncano (4810 m) and lavas between Qara daq and Talesh ranges. Bozghoosh ranges in eastern in eastern Bostan Abad and north of Miyaneh is confined with a fault structure in north and south and has a trend. Generally, the ranges are composed of pyroclastics or volcanics and paleogene intrusives which Paleozoic and Jurassic sediments of a small core are seen in eastern part. The northern boundary of horst is located beside Ajichai basin. Ardebil geology is divers, complicated and has a long evolution history, which formed its present feature, which is different from other part of Iran.