Maku, Iran


Maku is a city in the West Azerbaijan Province, Iran & the capital of Maku County. At the 2006 census, its population was 41,865, in 10,428 families.
It is situated from the Turkish border in a mountain gorge at an altitude of 1,634 metres. The Zangmar River cuts through the city. Maku Free Trade and Industrial Zone is Iran's largest and the world's second largest free trade zone and will encompass an area of 5,000 square km when it was scheduled to open in 2011. Azerbaijanis majorly and Kurds as a minority constitute the population of the city.

History

Maku was a region of the old Armenia c. 300–800, previously known as Artaz according to Aziz Atiya's History of Eastern Christianity.
Castle of Maku, original Shavarshan, were center of the domains of the princely family of Amatuni. Artazian branch of Amatuni family was ruling Maku region of Artaz stil in XVth century and successfully defend it against Timurleng, when he besieged castle of Maku.
Maku was the capital of a Kangarli Khanate one of numerous small, semi-independent Maku Khanates that resulted from the breakup of the Safavid empire in the 18th century.
Maku served as the capital of the Kurdish Jalali dynasty into the 1860s when the centralizing Qajar government in Persia/Iran removed them, appointing a governor instead.
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.

Climate

Maku has a semi-arid climate owing to its location in the rain shadow of the Zagros Mountains. The city is hot and dry in the summer, and cold with little snow in the winter. Most precipitation comes from spring thunderstorms.


, is a popular attraction.

Population

According to the 2006 census, the city has a population of 42,500. The languages in Maku are Azerbaijani, Kurdish, and Persian.
  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 is 7 km northwest of central Maku and presently functions as a museum displaying some carpets and local handicrafts.
  2. Farhad's Home: A place near Baqcheh Jooq Palace. A small home with a hall and two rooms that carved into the rock. The saying comes form the story Farhad and Shirin.
  3. Ruins of a fortress are folded into a ledge of the high cliff that towers above the town centre.
  4. Hiking : it is advisable to have a guide or stay within eyesight of the town. Due to its proximity to the Turkish border, it is easy to cross the border unintentionally.
  5. Rock climbing: There are numerous rock climbing sites at the northern part of the city, some exceeding 200 meters.
  6. 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.

    Transportation

The city is served by the new Maku International Airport, located on the east-south-east.

Tourism

Visa-free

Holders of normal passports travelling as tourists can enter Maku, Iran without a visa with maximum stay of 2 weeks as of September 2017.

Admission refused

Admission is refused to holders of passports or travel documents containing an Israeli visa or stamp or any data showing that visitor has been to Israel or indication of any connection with the state of Israel during the last 12 months.