Gilan

Gilan is a province in northern Iran along the Caspian Sea. Its capital is Rasht. The province features the Alborz mountains, dense forests, and a humid subtropical climate with high rainfall. The coast includes wetlands such as the Anzali Lagoon.

Historically known as Tabaristan, Gilan has a distinct regional heritage. In the early 20th century the Jangal movement led by Mirza Kuchik Khan challenged central authority, and a short-lived Gilan Socialist Soviet Republic existed before 1921.

The population includes Gilaki and Talyshi communities; Gilaki and Talyshi languages are spoken alongside Persian. The region is famous for rice and tea production, especially in Lahijan, and for seafood. Tourism has grown in coastal towns.

The economy relies on agriculture (notably rice and tea), fishing, forestry, and increasingly tourism. Gilan is divided into several counties, with Rasht as the provincial capital. The province remains a distinct cultural and ecological region, known for its lush landscapes, cuisine, and historical associations with early 20th-century reform movements.