Ardabil Province (Persian: استان اردبیل, Ostān-e Ardabīl Azerbaijani: اردبیل اوستانی) is one of the thirty-one provinces of Iran. It is in the northwest of the country, in Regions 3, bordering the Republic of Azerbaijan, the provinces of East Azerbaijan, Zanjan, and Gilan. Its administrative centre is the city of Ardabil. The province was established in 1993 from the eastern part of East Azerbaijan.
Many tourists come to the region for its cool climate (max 35 °C) during the hot summer months. The winters are bitter cold, with temperatures plummeting to -25 °C.
Its famous natural region is the Sabalan mountains. The province is considered the coldest province in Iran by many. Large parts of the province are green and forested.
Famous athletes such as Ali Daei and Hossein Rezazade are originally from Ardabil.
Ardabil's capital stands about 70 km from the Caspian Sea and has an area of 18011 km². Neighbouring the Caspian Sea and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the city is of great political and economic significance. The province has been blessed with splendid natural beauty and numerous sights.
Ardabil ( pronunciation , Persian: اردبیل, Azerbaijani: Ərdəbil, also Romanized as Ardabīl and Ardebīl) is an ancient city in Iranian Azerbaijan. Ardabil is the center of Ardabil Province. At the 2011 census, its population was 564,365, in 156,324 families, where the dominant majority are ethnic Iranian Azerbaijanis.
Ardabil is known for its silk and carpet trade tradition. Ardabil rugs are renowned and the ancient Ardabil Carpets are considered some of the best of the classical Persian carpet creations. Ardabil is also known as the seat of a World Heritage Site: the sanctuary and tomb of Shaikh Safî ad-Dîn, eponym of the Safavid Dynasty.
Ardabil is the birthplace of Ali Daei, FIFA's greatest ever male international goalscorer.
The name Ardabil comes from the Avesta "Artavila" which means a holy town or a holy place.
Ardabil is located on the Baliqly Chay River, about 70 km (43 mi) from the Caspian Sea, and 210 km (130 mi) from the city of Tabriz. It has an average altitude of 1,263 metres (4,144 ft) and total area of 18.011 km2 (6.954 sq mi). Neighboring on the Caspian Sea and the Republic of Azerbaijan, this city is and has been of great political and economical significance throughout history, especially within the Caucasus region. It is located on an open plain 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) above sea level, just east of Mount Sabalan (4,811 m), where cold spells occur until late spring.
Ardabil is an electoral district of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. It elects 7 members of parliament (deputies) in the 5 electoral district to represent the province of the same name for a four-year term by the Voting system.