MAZANDERAN, a province of Persia, lying between the Caspian Sea and the Elburz range and bounded E. by the province of Astarabad and W. by Gilan; about 200 m. long by 6o m. Mazanderan, like Gilan, comprises two distinct natural regions, presenting the sharpest contrasts. The northern portion consists of swampy lowlands, varying in breadth from io to 3o m. partly under impenetrable jungle and partly under crops. This belt is fringed northward by the Caspian, here almost destitute of good natural harbours, and rises somewhat abruptly inland to the second belt comprising the northern slopes and spurs of the Elburz which are almost everywhere covered with dense forest. The lowlands, rising but a few feet above the sea, and subject to frequent floodings, are malarious while the highlands, culminating in Mt. Demavend (18,600 ft.) enjoy a tolerably healthy climate; but the climate is capricious. Snow falls in the highlands, where for weeks it completely blocks the tracks across the Elburz. The rivers of Mazanderan are comparatively short and little more than mountain torrents. The chief is the Harhaz rising in the neighbourhood of Demavend; all are well stocked with trout, salmon, perch, carp and sturgeon.
Production.—The chief natural products of the lowlands are rice, cotton of good quality, sugar-cane, silk and citrus fruits. Hazar Jarib grows wheat and barley; while the hill district of Firuzkuh has extensive summer pastures. The main forests—of oak, ash, box, walnut, etc., are in the miyanabad, or middle hills. Wild boars are numerous. The domestic animals are small, in cluding the black humped cattle, sheep and goats. Mazanderan is rich in minerals and in the Nur district iron in exploitable quantities is found in proximity to coal.
Population.—Mazanderan is divided into the ten districts of Ashraf, Hazar Jarib, Sari, Savad Kuh, Aliabad, Firuzkuh, Meshed i-Sar, Barfurush, Bandipe, Amol and Larijan, and Nur. The coastal plains are probably the most thickly-peopled tracts in Persia, especially the delta areas at the mouths of the rivers where water can be utilized for rice cultivation. The two races chiefly
represented are the Mazanderani and Gilaki. The capital is Bar furush (q.v.). For short periods this town has been the admini strative headquarters, but usually the Governor of Mazanderan resides at Sari. The export trade is chiefly with the port of Baku and carried on almost exclusively from Meshed-i-Sar at the mouth of the Babil river, navigable for small craft up to Barfarush, Is m. inland. The tonnage of trade in 5925-26 was 29,00o tons. Great quantities of rice are sent into the interior of Persia, prin cipally to Tehran and Kazvin. The imports in order of value were sugar, flour, tea and metals and minerals. A salient feature of the Caspian provinces is their isolation from the rest of Persia by the formidable barrier of Elburz. The road from Tehran to Demavend, constructed in 1919 by the Persian postal adminis tration, is passable for all classes of motors at most seasons. BIBLIOGRAPHY.—H. L. Wells, From Tehran towards the Caspian, Geogr. J., 1896, VIII.; F. Sarre, Reise in Mazanderan, Z. Ges. Erdk. Berl., 1902, pp. 99-111; H. L. Rabino, Report on the trade and general conditions of the City of Barfurush and the province of Mazanderan, Dip!. and Cons. Report, No. 4821. A journey in Mazanderan (from Resht to Sari), Geogr. J., 1913, MAI.; Les pro vinces caspiennas de la Perse; Le Guilan, Rev. du Monde Musulman, 1917 ; F. Lafont, Les Forks du 'lord de la Perse, Bull. de. l'Union Franco-Persane, Paris, 1Q11; J. B. L. Noel, A reconnaissance in the Caspian provinces of Persia, Geogr. J., 5921, LVII.; L. S. Fortescue, The western Elburz and Persian Azerbaijan, Geogr. J., pp. 301-318; Les provinces caspiennes de la Perse, La Geographic, 1925, XLIII., Pp. 341-357.