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Revision as of 09:32, 7 April 2003 by K1 (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Mazandaran is a province in northern Iran, bordering the Caspian Sea in the north. The name is from Old Persian "mahs Indra" (Great/Big Indra, a vedic god). Sari is the capital; other cities include Babol, Amul. Gorgan also used to be a part of Mazandaran until recently, but now it is the capital city of the new Iranian province of Golestan (1997). It is traversed by the Elburz Mountains, which run parallel to the Caspian Sea and divide the province into many isolated valleys. Rice, grain, fruits, cotton, tea, tobacco, sugarcane, and silk are produced in the lowland strip along the Caspian shore. Oil wealth has stimulated industries in food processing, cement, textiles, cotton, and fishing (Kaviar). Mazandaran changed hands often early in its history (Russia...) and was incorporated into the Persian Empire by Shah Abbas I in 1596. It was formerly a part of the greater province of Taparestan or Tabristan.