Markazi Province

Markazi Province (Persian: استان مرکزی‎, Ostān-e Markazi ) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. The word markazi means central in Persian. Markazi lies in western Iran. Its capital is Arak. Its population is estimated at 1.35 million. The present borders of the province date to the 1980s, when the province was split into the current Markazi and the Tehran Province, with portions being annexed by Esfahan, Semnan Province, and Zanjan. The major cities of the province are: Saveh, Arak, Mahallat, Zarandiyeh, Khomein, Delijan, Tafresh, Ashtian, and Shazand (previously known as Sarband) Markazi province was part of the Median Empire in the first millennium BC, which included all of the central and western parts of modern day Iran. The region...