Kivi, Iran


Kivi is a city in and the capital of Kowsar County, Ardabil Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 6,467, in 1,721 families. Earlier, Kivi was divided into upper and lower Kivi: düz kıvı and aşaği kıvı.
Kivi is situated in the center of a newly established county, with an area of. It borders Ardabil to the north, Khalkhal to the south, Hashtpar in Gilan Province to the east, and Mianeh to the west in East Azerbaijan Province.
Kivi constitutes 7 percent of the area of the Ardabil province. Bajilar Daghlari extend between Kivi and Miyaneh. Kivi is in a mountainous region, with temperate mountainous climate on the western side of the Baghru Mountains. The average annual precipitation of the region exceeds.
Arpa-Chay, Givi-Chay, Sangava Chay are the important rivers of the town which join to Qiziluzan river in the borders of Mianeh.

History

The history of the Kivi and Khalkhal dates back to pre-Islam. The city was named Dord-Evlar because only four families were living there. When Islam entered there during Umar age, they converted to Islam.
It is said that during Yazid Ibn Moavieh's reign, the king of the region was requested to send army forces to fight with Husayn ibn Ali; some of the inhabitants started a departure, but in the southwest part of the current city a man named Vouroush Qojasi prevented them, while people killed him. Since then, this place has been known as Qoja-Vouroushchu or Pir-e Jangi. In the passion plays of the mourning month of Muharram, people say the following: Oh, Hossein, some troops have departed from Khakhal, Ardabil and Zanjan, etc. It is likely that this story is a legend.
The oldest educational center of the city, Hafez School, was established in 1940, and its municipality was established on April 7, 1957.

Scenery

Kivi has much natural scenery, green mountains, and beautiful parks; for tourists attractive points of the city include Isti Sou spa, the peaceful and soft mountainous climate of the region and medical effects of spas, which attract many tourists during summer every year, especially from Tehran.
Natural scenery of the city includes: Roustam dashi, Dash Hamam, Zinjirovpir, Bouzlouq, Havashanaq Village, Sarmistan or Salmistan, Mashgoul, Mashgul Manbari, Firouzabad bridge, and earth dams such as Qara-Qishlaq.

Havashanaq glacier

Havashanaq glacier is located some 5.6 km from the city, opposite a spa and close to Havashanaq village. The glacier lies in a bulk of rocks and large stones as a cave and is known as Bouzlouq. The cave is located six meters deep in the ground. During warm months, the walls of the cave start freezing, and one should be careful when entering the cave, while in winter no bit of ice can be found there.
Another well-known Bouzlouq is located in the cross point of Firouz-Abad river and Qiziluzan River and is known as Atash Cottage. Atash Amou lived in Mashkoul and he always put his dairy products such as butter in it to take advantage of inner coldness of the glacier. There is another glacier in Zarajuva Village, which is known as Yashli Bouzli.

Spas

The spas of the city have several local and overall biologic effects on the body. Cutaneous effects include improving skin tissues and its general effects include recovering body metabolism. Spas are a type of natural resource.
The most important spa in the city is Isti Sou or Kivi-Souyu, which is located five kilometers from Kivi-Khalkhal Road. Of the other known spas in the city is Dash-Hamam Spa, which is located in the northeast of the city, among gardens.
Men swim in Dash-Hamam on Fridays and Mondays, and the women can use it during the rest of weekdays. However, before the incumbency of Mokhtar Jamili, men were allowed to use the spa only on Fridays. Dash-Hamam has two cold and warm spas.

Isti Sou Spa or Kivi Souyu

The spa is located five kilometers from Kivi, on the way of Ardabil-Khalkhal road, on a mountain. Water temperature measures. Local people believe that cutaneous and particular disease such as rheumatism and articular pain can be treated by swimming in the spa. Thus, loading and unloading of the spa may last for some hours. The temperature is so high that one cannot enter in it gradually therefore it is better to enter in the spa suddenly.

Dash Hamam (Stone Bath)

This bath is located east of Kivi, among gardens, beside Kivi Chay River, close to Dalikli Dash and inside in a carved rock. Men can use the bath on Friday and nights, and women during the rest of the week. After incumbency of municipality by the mayor, Mokhtar Jamili, the program changed, and men can use the bath in Fridays and Mondays and women during the rest of week. The water of the bath is supplied from two hot and cold-water spa is useful for removing kidney stone. Some of the inhabitants take the water to their homes and brew tea from the water of spa. Unlike other spas, after which one may feel thirsty, after this bath people are more likely to feel hungry.

Zinjirovpir (Sinjrovpir)

Zinjirovpir is one example of the beautiful natural scenery of Kivi, which is located in the southeast, and east of the city on the mountain. The appellation refers to the legend of a devout girl who was tortured by the gangs and requested God to help her disappear so she would be safe. Due to her moral tradition, God admitted her request and she vanished. Because the girl was not engaged, she died unmarried. Since then, on April 2, in spring, and early autumn, women provide some votive foods and celebrate the wedding of the girl while appreciating her.

Ganjah Goli

Ganjah Goli is located 16 kilometers far from Kivi, northwest of Ganjah village, which is one of the attractive areas for tourists.

Firzabat (Firouzabad) Bridge

The bridge is in the Firouz district at the entrance of Firzabat village. It was built in 1933 during the incumbency of Rezakhan of the Pahlavi dynasty, by German architects.

Roustam Dashi (Roustam’s Stone)

The stone is located at northeast of Kivi, up Kivi-Khalkhal road, on the Aznov mountain. People tell a story that it was grit in Roustam's shoe or Roustam carried it by himself.

Sarmistan Scenery (Salmistan)

Sarmistan is believed to be an example of the natural and tourist-attractive scenery of Kivi, and many colorful and fragrant flowers are found there. The water of the region is very cold and is located northeast of the town, up spa, close to Goy Yal.

Dalikli Dash (The Pored Stone)

The stone is located northeast of the city, under Kivi-Khalkhal road, among gardens. In this place, unmarried girls and infertile women gather together and pray to get their wishes and pass through the hole on the last Wednesday of Iranian Calendar, and if their wishes are fulfilled, they will celebrate their accomplishment in the same location and time and offer people cookies.

Kivi Parks

There are some beautiful parks in Kivi city constructed by the municipality. Badam Chichaklari Parki or Shokoufehaye Badam Parki, Fadak Parki, QizilGul Parki, and Oyratmanlar or Farhangian Parki. The most important are Almond Blooms and Fadak Park.
- Badam Chichaklari Parki or Shokoufehaye Badam Parki :
The southern part of Old Khanliq Baghi was purchased during incumbency of the former mayor, Mokhtar Jamili on Yukhari Kivi region and turned to a park, which measures six ha and is located the Khalkhal-Kivi-Ardabil Road. Travelers can rest in it, and it has some spas.
- Fadak Park:
The park was purchased during incumbency of the former mayor, Eqbal Abbasi in Ashaghi Kivi region, It is 30,000 square meters in the south of the city, among gardens, beside the riverbank of Kivi Chayi. The park was purchased from late Ibrahim Rizayi, and then construction was started. There are some entertaining apparatuses in the park, and a cultural art center building has been constructed in the park. The park is the most beautiful one in the town.

Kivi Dams; Qara-Qishlaq Earth Dam, Ilkhichi Earth Dam, Likvan Earth Dam

Mashkoul Manbari (Mashkoul Pulpit)

The pulpit is made of wood, and Ayatulkorsi has been engraved with Kufi handwriting on its body. The building date is not clear, some refers to Usman and some to Seljuk dynasty. There are a castle and a cave in north of Qizil Uzan river and a deserted graveyard which is called Sunnular Qabristani in the village.

Climate

Kivi enjoys a moderate, mountainous climate, which is cold in winter and has short and warm summers. The warmest months are June, July and August with average temperatures of, and the lowest temperatures in winter reach. The average low temperature during January and February is about and its highest in the summer about. On May 29, 2003 the city had an unusually heavy hail storm.
Kivi has much tourist-attractive scenery, besides all the green and fruitful gardens of the city has doubled the attractiveness of Kivi, which hosts many visitors from throughout the world. The current mayor of the city is Ali-Akbar Chiraq-Alizada.