Maku, Iran

Panoramic view on the town of Maku.

Kakh Muzeh Maku, near Maku, built by one of the commanders of Mozzafar-al-Din Shah, is a popular attraction.

Coordinates: 39°17′24″N 44°28′08″E / 39.29°N 44.46889°E / 39.29; 44.46889

Maku (Azerbaijani: Makı, Persian: ماکو) is a town in the northwestern part of the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. It is situated 22 km from the Turkish border in a mountain gorge at an altitude of 1634 metres. The Zangmar River cuts through the city.^[1][2]

Etymology

According to some accounts the word Maku possibly derives from the Armenian language Maki.

History

Maku was the capital of a Kangarli Khanate^[3] one of numerous small, semi-independent Khanates that resulted from the breakup of the Safavid empire in the 17th century.^[4]

The city is well-known in Bahá'í history for its fort where the Báb had been exiled to and imprisoned for nine months. At this fortress Mullá Husayn, the first Disciple of the Báb, arrived on Náw-Rúz of the year 1848 to see the Báb.

In ancient times the region of Maku was a part of Lesser Media and its name itself may be derived from the Persian word Madkuh meaning "the Mountain of the Medes". Medes were one of the ancient Iranian tribes.

Population

According to the 2006 census, the city has a population of 41,865 who speak Kurdish and Azeri. The Kurds of Maku are mostly from Milan and Jalali groups.

Attractions

1. Baqcheh Jooq Palace: dates back to the end of the Qajar period. It used to be the house of the local governor until 1974. It's 7 km northwest of central Maku and presently functions as a museum displaying some carpets and local handicrafts.
2. Ruins of a fortress are folded into a ledge of the high cliff that towers above the town centre^[5].
3. Hiking : it is advisable to have a guide or stay within eye-sight of the town. Due to its proximity to the Turkish border, it is easy to cross the border unintentionally.
4. Rock climbing: There are numerous rock climbing sites at the northern part of the city, some exceeding 200 meters.
5. Panj Cheshmeh - This bridge is located 5 km. from Maku on the Zangmar River, and is a monument from the Safavid era. This bridge was constructed in order to facilitate communications between Tabriz and Maku, and the surrounding rural areas^[1].

Notes

• Maku on facebook
• Maku on panoramio

References

• P. Oberling, The Turkic Peoples of Iranian Azerbaijan, 1964a, American Council of Learned Scientists

External links

• MakuCity.com
• Mahrāveh Soroushiān, Maku, a Passageway to Cultures (Maku, Gozar'gāh-e Farhang'hā), in Persian, Jadid Online, 9 February 2009, [1].
  An audio slideshow, [2] (5 min 23 sec).

v • d • e West Azarbaijan Province Capital Urmia Counties (shahrestan) Bukan  • Chaipareh  • Chaldoran  • Khoy  • Mahabad  • Maku  • Miandoab  • Naqadeh  • Oshnavieh  • Piranshahr  • Poldasht  • Salmas  • Sardasht  • Shahindej  • Showt  • Takab  • Urmia  • Cities Avajiq  • Baruq  • Bazargan  • Bukan  • Chahar Borj  • Chaldoran  • Firuraq  • Gordkeshkhaneh  • Ivughli  • Keshawarz  • Khoy  • Maku  • Mahabad  • Mohhamadyar  • Mahmudabad  • Miandoab  • Mirabad  • Naghadeh  • Nalous  • Noshinshar  • Piranshahr Oshnavieh  • Poldasht  • Qaraziadin  • Qushchi  • Rabbat  • Salmas  • Sardasht  • Serow  • Shahindej  • Showt  • Silvaneh  • Simineh  • Takab  • Tazehshehr  • Urmia Villages List of cities, towns and villages in West Azarbaijan Province Sights Shalmash Waterfall  • Old bazaar of Khoy  • Ghoutour Bridge  • Khoshku ski resort  • Teppe Hasanlu  • Takht-i-Suleiman  • Farhad's rock grave(Dakhmeh)  • Lake Urmia  • Bastam Citadel  • Zarrineh River dam  • Sahulan cave  • Fakhrigah cave  • Faghrgah  • Saint Thaddeus Monastery  • Baghchejogh museum and palace  • Koleshin Inscription  • Nanehmaryam monastery  • Baand park  • Sir park  • Sardar mosque  • Urmia museum  • Salmas Sassanid relief  • Segonbad  •