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ORUMIEH
 Provincial
capital of Western Azarbaijan in an altitude of 1,340 m above sea level at
the extreme northwest of Iran, Orumieh is 946 km away from Tehran by road.
The origins of Orumieh (or Rezaieh from 1930 till 1988), according to some
sources, go back to the civilization of Urartu, in whose language Urmi
meant a fortress. Orumieh, if it is in fact the Urmi of the
Urartians, is the legendary birthplace of Zoroaster and the burial place
of one of the Three Magi.
The town nestles amid the foothills of the Turkish frontier, facing a
turquoise- colored lake of inland water. A big market-town, Orumieh has
over 650,431 inhabitants of the most diverse ethnic and religious
background: Iranian Turks, Kurds, Chaldean Christians, Muslims and
Catholics. |
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 The
largest inland water body in Iran, Lake Orumieh 20 km to the east of the
town, with an area of 6,000 square kilometers and a depth of 6-16 meters,
is so full of salt (though less so than the Dead Sea) that it cannot
support any animal or vegetable life. However, because of containing
natural salts and mud. the same water is used by patients who suffer from
dermal and rheumatic troubles. At Golmankhaneh harbor, there are coastal
beaches ready to welcome the travelers. It is almost 135 km long and 15-50
km wide; and there are nearly a hundred uninhabited but environmentally
protected beautiful islands in the southern parts, where wild beasts and
animals live. Kabudan (formerly Shahi), occasionally a peninsula when a
strip of mud dries long enough to connect it to the shore, is the second
largest island of the lake. after the inhabited Eslami Island. Its surface
area is 3170 hectare; I2 km in length and 25 km in width, it has an
altitude of 1275 m. A large number of birds such as flamingos, pelicans,
wild geese, and gulls are living on and around the island. Hunting is
prohibited here and entrance therein is subject to authorization given by
the Environment Protection Department of the Province.
Apart from a road under construction across the Lake, there is some boat
facilities for passengers between the Eastern and Western Azarbaijans as
well. The KabuIsland is the place where Hulagu Khan was buried together
with his concubines and a legendary store of riches. Kabudan is the
prototype of the "Treasure Island".
Orumieh Sightseeing |
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ADDRESSES AND THE NUMBERS
ACCESS AND DISTANCES:
894 km to Tehran. 297 km to
Tabriz. 443 km to Sanandaj. 579 km to Kermanshah. 625 km to Harnadan. 513
km to Ardabil.
ACCIDENTS:
Shahid Esmail-e Shafi'e Pour 35935.
AIR AGENT:
1. Caspian Air 35203.
2. Iran Air, On the south side of Kashani Street, between the Enghelab
Square and Orumieh Inn 35035, 27777.
3. Saha Air has an office at the airport 22206.
AIRPORT:
About 25 minutes by road north of town, on Salmass Road 22206, 23569.
There is no airport bus service.
BANKS AND EXCHANGE OFFICES:
1. Bank Melli Iran, on Kashani Street.
2 Jahan Exchange Office, Imam Khomeini Ave 25572,26688
3. Khayyam Exchange Office, Northern Qodss Street 34138.
4 Kholussi Exchange Office, Opposite Telecommunication Office 28553.
5. Markazi Exchange Office, Ba'sat Street 32584,26502.
6. Shirzadi Exchange Office, Bazaar, Saray-e Ha. Ebrahim 34360.
BUS TERMINAL:
Haft-e Tir Blvd on the eastern approaches to the city. All the bus
companies operating out of Orumieh have offices at this tenninal. You can
get buses to nearly all major towns of Iran.
CITY DIALING CODE NUMBER:
The dialing code for Orumieh is 0441.
DRUG STORE (24-HOUR):
1. Jaber ibn-e Hayyan, Ghodss Street 25747.
2. Sahand, Velayat-e Faghih Square 31900.
EMERGENCIES:
Dial 118, 115, 24081-2.
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE:
Fannandari, Amini Street 25227.
MEDICAL SERVICES:
1. Motahari Hospital, Kashani Street 37077- 80.
2 Shahid Dr Beheshti hospital, Bagh-e Rezvan Street 20441-2.
3. Shahid Dr Gholipour Hospital, Enghelab Ave 32023.
POLICE:
On the north side of Enghelab Square 110, 44710
POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS:
The main post office is at the southern end of Imam Ave. For
long-distance calls go to the telephone office a little further up, just
north of the intersection with Ghodss Street. To get the operator dial
116; for directory inquiries dial 118.
RESTAURANTS:
Tow good places where you can get a bite to eat are the Reza Hotel
and Orumieh /nn. There are some chelo kababis and snack bars
along Imam Khomeini Ave. Ahmadi Eating Salon is recommended for
humble cooking. Some of the Restaurants are:
1. Darya-e Nur, Taleghani Street 50773.
2. Flamingo, Ayatollah Kashani Street 61177.
3. Pizza 69, Ayatollah Kashani Street 49169
4. Tak Setareh, Daneshkadeh Street 4428]
TAXI:
Shared taxis run along all the
main roads of Orumieh, with the greatest concentration in Imam Khomeini
Ave.
1. Azarbaijan Taxi, Shahid Raja'i Street 40135.
2. Iran Taxi, Dr Beheshti Street 2666] .
3. Fajr Taxi, Bakeri Street 29993
4 Orum Taxi, Falakeh Madani 30558,35656. 5. Rakhsh Taxi, Falakeh Nobovvat
24441.
TOURIST MAP:
Available in English and Persian
(you can get it from the Tourist Office).
TOURIST OFFICE:
South Ghodss Street 45018-20 and 20241. The tourist office is helpful
and the staff can supply information in English well. |
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