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Yazd
is located in the central part of Iran . The
neighboring Kavir Loot (Loot desert) and the lack of
rainfall give this province a dry climate.
Sheer
Kooh's peaks (Sheer mountains), in the south, are
covered with snow year round. Yazd is called the windy
city because the floating sand of the desert is the
main geographical feature of the province. It has dry
hot summers and cold winters.
Yazd
dates from the Sassanid period. The geographical
features of this region have made people develop
special architectural styles. In the older part of the
city, most houses are built of mud-bricks and have
domed roofs. These materials serve as insulation,
preventing heat from passing through. The majority of
the people live in urban areas. Muslims constitute the
majority of the population while Zorastrians and Jews
are the minorities. Yazd province is rich in minerals
such as iron, lead, zinc, copper and uranium.
According
to some historians, Yazd was established by Yazdegerd
I, of the Sassand Dynasty (339-420 AD). Because of the
immense deserts, the Mongols did not invade this city,
As a result, many poets, artists and scholars migrated
to Yazd. During this period numerous schools, mosques
and mausoleums were build in this city.
The
mosque Masjid-e-Jame dates back to the 11th century.
This mosque has a magnificent portal and two lofty
minarets. The tile-work on the altar and dome are
fascinating. An extraordinary blend of grandeur and
finesse, this mosque is a treasure house of Islamic
architecture. UNESCO has recognized Yazd as a city
having the second oldest architecture in the world.
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Adjacent
to the mosque is a library containing an exquisite
collection of ancient manuscripts.
The
complex of Amir Chakhmaq consists of a mosque, a
public bath, a caravansary (inn) and one mausoleum.
This complex was founded by the Governor's wife in the
16th Century.
The
Mausoleum of Seyyed Rokn-ed-Din is an edifice with a
beautiful portal, a great dome, and fascinating
tile-work. There are epigraphs in Kufic scripture on
the plasterworks of the interior.
The
Complex of Bagh-e-Doulat was the governor's residence
in the past. The most impressive feature of this
complex is a building with ventilation structures (badgir)
on the roof with a brook under it. The air enters and
passes through the flowing water and cools the air
inside the buildings. Latticed doors and stained glass
windows are another interesting features of the
building.

The
Fire Temple of Zoroastrians was built on a hill and is
encircled by evergreen trees. Inside the temple there
is a fire that has been burning for 700 years. The
capitals of the pillars and the detailing on the
architecture of the temples is remarkable.
There
are two impressive building on the hills outside the
city called the Towers of Silence, In olden days,
Zorastrians laid the dead bodies on the towers to be
exposed to vultures until no flesh remained on them.
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