Isfahan (city)

Isfahan or Eşfahān (historically also rendered as Ispahan, Old Persian Aspadana, Middle Persian Spahān, Persian اصفهان), located about 340 km south of Tehran, is the capital of Isfahan Province and Iran (Persia)'s third largest city (after Tehran and Mashhad). Its population in 2000 was 2,040,000.

Isfahan today

Today Isfahan, the third largest city in Iran, produces fine carpets, textiles, steel, and handicrafts. Isfahan also has nuclear experimental reactors as well as facilities for producing nuclear fuel (UCF). Isfahan has one of the largest steel producing facilities in the entire region, as well as facilities for producing special alloys.

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The cities of Najaf-abad, Khaneh Isfahan, Khomeini-shahr, Shahin-shahr, Zarrin-shahr, and Fulad-e Mobarakeh all constitute the metropolitan city of Isfahan. The city has an international airport and is in the final stages of constructing its first Metro line.

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Over 2000 companies are working in the area using Isfahan's economic, cultural, and social potentials. Isfahan contains a major oil refinery and a large airforce base. HESA, Iran's most advanced aircraft manufacturing plant (where the AN-140 aircraft is made), is located nearby.http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/iran-140.htm

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Sports

Isfahan has two football (soccer) clubs that have been chart toppers in the Iran's Premier Football League. These are:

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• Sepahan Isfahan (Official website)
• Zob Ahan Isfahan (Official website)

Colleges and Universities

Aside from the seminaries and religious schools, the major universities of the Isfahan metropolitan area are:

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• # Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
• # Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan University of Technology ranks among the top 5 universities of Iran.
• # University of Isfahan
• # Isfahan University of Art
• # Isfahan University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences
• # Islamic Azad University of Isfahan
• # Islamic Azad University of Khomeinishahr
• # Islamic Azad University of Mobarakeh
• # Islamic Azad University of Najaf Abad
• # Ashrafi Isfahani Academic Institute
• # Malek Ashtar University of Technology
• # University of Defence Sciences and Technologies