F a r s

Dating hack to antiquity Fars province has been a significant center of the Persian culture and civilization. During some important Iranian dynasties, including the Achaemenids, Fars was the capital of the country. Considering numerous historical monuments, Fars is an exponent of the Iranian and Islamic art and history. Some of the greatest Iranian poets and philosophers are from this province. The identity of this province and the whole country is so much merged that Iran was once known as Pars (Persian).
Located in the southern Iran and covering in art-a of 133000 square kms
Fars is bounded on the north by Yazd and Isfahan on the west by Kohgiluyeh VA Boyer
Ahmad on the south by Hormozgan, and Bushehr, and on he east by Kerman. The climate of Fars is complex, ranging
From cold in the mountainous regions to warm in the southern and eastern areas. The cities of Sepidan and Nurabad are located in the mountainous regions. In the cities of Shiraz Kazerun Fasa and Firuzabad the weather is mild, while Lar Khonj and Evaz have hot dry summers.
The Zagros range stretches from the northwest to the southeast. In the north and north-west of the province there are lofty mountains like Barm Firuz andAzamat. The famous defile of Koli Kosh is in this mountain. The mountains near Shiraz are Sabz Pushan, Kuh-e Bamu, Kuh-e Tudaj and Khaman Kuh.
The most important river is Karkheh, originating in the northern mountains, passing by the city of Marvdasht and emptying into lake Bakhtegan.
This river across which the large dam of Derudzan has been built irrigates many areas and creates spectacular views. The dam is suitable for water sports. The other rivers of Fars most of which flows into the Persian Gulf are as follows: Qara Aqaj, Shapur, Dalki, Firuzabad and Fahlyan1. The waterfall or Margun in the westernmost of Fars is very high, attracting large numbers of people.
There are three impressive lakes in Fars: Bakhtegan (Neyriz), Parishan (Famur)
And Maharul. Lake Bakhtegan in the eastern Fars is linked with a smaller take called Teshk. Teshk is a shallow lake and is located in Neyriz. Lake Bakhtegan is the habitat of some species of migratory birds. Lake Bakhtegan situated in the southeast of kazerun, is a- center for fishing and fish farming. There are recreational facilities on the lake. Lake Maharul located 18 Kms east of Shiraz has salt-water from which salt is obtained.
In the mountainous regions there are impressive caves the most important of which arc as follows: Tadedevan cave, located 120 Kms east of Shiraz on the road of jahrom-Shiraz this cave where a lot of bats live, is one of the largest caves in Iran. Hedar Beyg, in which there is a well, is located in Beyza.
Shafagh cave, located 140 Kms east of Shiraz, Shah-e Qandab cave 45 Kms away from Abadeh And Kan-e Gohar cave 36 Kms away from Suryan in Abadeh are caves
Having eye-catching stalactites andStalagmites. Shapur cave, 30 Kms from kazerun in which there is a pool is a point of interest. A statue of Shapur I, king of the Sasanian dynasty with a height of 7 meters in front of the cave.
The vegetation of the province is rich in variety including goat's thorn acanthus, milfoil, oak, almond and fig trees. The forested areas are the stretches of the forests of the Zagros.
Wildlife includes ibex gazelles, mouflon, deer, wild boars, foxes and jackles. Birds found in the province are partridges, pheasants, eagles and some species of migratory birds. The national park of Bamu in the northern Shiraz covering an area of 40000 ha abounds with deer. Wildlife sanctuary of Arjan, Established in the west Shiraz includes forests and many springs a rare variety of Iranian deer lives in this area. Bahram-e Gur Harmad and Bakhtegan are other wildlife sanctuaries
The ruling dynasty of the Persian was settled in Fars by the Achaemenids. From then on Fars has been a major center of the Iranian culture and civilization. Farsi is the language, which is predominantly spoken. The religion of the majority of the people is Islam. Religious traditions are of greatest significance in the eyes of the people. The religious minorities are Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians. One of the biggest Iranian tribes called Qashqayee lives in Fars.
All cities of the Province are linked with each other and with the neighboring provinces by asphalt all-weather roads. The International airport of Shiraz connecting Shiraz with many cities in Iran and abroad plays an important role in transportation of both passengers and goods. The cities of Lar and Lamard also have airports linking then with Shiraz and Tehran. Shiraz is on the main road From Tehran to The southern Iran.
Agriculture is of grate importance in Fars. The major product includes. Cereals (wheat and barley), citrus fruits, dates, sugar beets and cotton.
The Fars's industries are of high significance, some of which are the petrochemical industry, an oil refinery, a factory for producing tyres, electronics industry and a sugar mill. Fars province consists of 15 cities. Shiraz is the provincial capital and the
Others are as follows: Abadeh, Estahban, Eqlid, jahrom, Darab, Sepidan Fasa Firuzibad, Kazerun, Lar, Lamard, Marvdasht, Mamasani and Neyriz. Shiraz is World-famous as a historical city.

Located at entrance of the city of Shiraz, the beautifully built Darvazeh Qor'aan, was the place where two huge Qor'aan, know as the Hefdah-man  Qor'aan were kept. All who entered or left the city had to pass through Darvazeh Qor'aan, thus passing underneath the two Holy Qor'aan. Most Muslims believe that if a man walks on the Holy Qor'aan before he sets out in a trip, he will safely return home. The two Qurans are presently kept in the Pars Museum.

Hafezieh is situated northeast of  Shiraz, and is the grave-site of the Persian, poet, Hafez, nicknamed "Lessan-ol-Gheib", and a place of pilgrimage for his admirers. These admirers  --Goethe, the great German poet was one--  have flocked around his poetry, pondering on its meanings. Despite the passage of centuries, Hafez's poetry is as relevant today as ever.