Ilām Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. In 2014 it was placed in Region 4. It is in the west of the country, bordering Iraq. Its provincial center is the city of Ilām. Covering an area of 19,086 square km include Ilām, Mehran, Dehloran, Darreh-Shahr, Sarab, Eyvan, Abdanan and Arkwaz cities. Ilām province shares its borders with 3 neighbor Iranian provinces and Iraq, Khouzestān province in the south, Lorestān province in the east, Kermānshāh province in the north and Iraq in the west with 425 km of common border.
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About Ilam Province
Historical evidence shows Ilām, which was called Alamto or Alam meaning ‘mountains’ or ‘the country of sunrise’ in Elamite and Babylonian inscriptions, was an important center of the Elamite civilization, linking the Iranian plateau and Mesopotamia. Limited archaeological studies and discoveries indicate 6,000 years of tribal residence in Ilām. Historical evidence indicates that Ilām province was part of the ancient Elamite Empire. Existence of numerous historical vestiges in Ilām province belonging to the Sassanid period indicates the specific importance of the region in that time. During later periods the city’s name was changed to Aryojan until in 1929, the Iranian government changed the city’s name to Ilām. The province is an area rich in Bronze and Iron Age archeological sites mostly in the form of cemeteries. Chenar Graveyard, a site datable to the first millennium BC, Kiane-Gonbad Graveyard, which archaeological studies suggest dates to 2500-2600 BC, and Pelkeh-Kan Graveyard, where numerous Stone Age artifacts have been discovered are the most famous of these cemeteries. These cemeteries, which hold invaluable ethnographical and chronological information on social and economic relations, indicated that throughout the millennia Ilām has witnessed the rise and fall of countless civilizations. Ilām is also one of the first regions in the world to have an agricultural system. The city has an Agriculture Museum dedicated to the history of agriculture, which showcases various methods farming.
Ilām province covers an area of 19,086 km2 (7,369 sq mi), about 4.1 percent of the country. The northwest- southeast alignment of Zagros Mountains forms the terrain of the area. The two important mountain ridges are Kabir-Kouh and Dinar-Kouh. Being located in the western-most part of Zagross Mountains gives the province its special landscape including deserts in the western counties of Mehran and Dehloran bordering Iraq which feature very hot summers and mild winters and very low precipitations and the mountainous regions of east like Abdanan and Darreh-Shahr which are milder and receive higher precipitations, mostly in form of rain, although snow is not rare. Despite being situated in the cold mountainous region of Iran, Ilām’s climate is largely influenced by deserts from the west and the south. Hence the city experiences heavy rain showers or snow in winter and has dusty, hot and dry weather in summer.
Kurds comprise approximately 86% of the province’s population, with most other inhabitants being Lurs, Laks and Arabs. Ilām Kurds are predominantly Feyli Kurds. The absolute majority of the residents in the southern part of the province (Abdanan, Badreh, Dehloran and Mehran) are Kurds and speak Kurdish. The majority are Feyli, such as those of Khezel, Arkawâzi, Beyrey (Ali Sherwan) and Malek shahi. All of residents in Ilām province are Shi’a Muslims.
Agriculture, Non-metal minerals, Oil & Gas- Textile, Mining (Bitumen-Gypsum- Shale- Calcium carbonate (limestone)
Handicrafts
Handicrafts of Ilam
Food & Drink
Due to its variety of ethnic groups and the neighboring cultures impact, the cuisine of Iran is diverse. vegetables are frequently used, along with fruits such as plums, pomegranate, quince, prunes, apricots, and raisins. To achieve a balanced taste, characteristic flavorings such as saffron, dried lime, cinnamon, and parsley are mixed delicately and used in some special dishes. Onion and garlic are commonly used in the preparation of the accompanying course, but are also served separately during meals, either in raw or pickled form. Iranian best foods include:
Persian Kebabs
Qeymeh
Dizi
Qormeh Sabzi
Persian Rice
Aash-e Reshteh
Khoresht-e fesenjan
Sabzi Polo Ba Mahi
Kookoo or Kuku
Tahchin
Ab Gousht-e Bamiyeh
Dandeh Polo
Traditional Cookies of Ilam