Quick answerKaraj is a city in Iran, with 1,592,492 people inside the city limits in 2016. The wider metropolitan area had about 3.0 million people in 2016. It is best known for the Little Iran, the Chalus Road and the Amir Kabir Dam. Its official language is Persian, and its currency is the Iranian rial.
Karaj is the fourth-most populous city in Iran, with about 1.6 million people in the city and about 3 million in the metro area (2016). It stands west of Tehran at the foot of the Alborz mountains and is known as Little Iran and the gateway to the Chalus Road.
Key facts
| Country | Iran |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,592,492 (2016) |
| Population (metro) | 3,000,000 (2016) · Karaj metropolitan area (Alborz Management and Planning Organization) |
| Elevation | 1312 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Tehran |
| Language | Persian |
| Currency | Iranian rial (IRR, ﷼) |
| Coordinates | 35.8292° N, 50.9675° E |
Overview
Karaj is a city in northern Iran, in Alborz Province, about 40 kilometres west of Tehran at the foot of the Alborz mountains. The city had 1,592,492 residents in the 2016 census, while the urban area held 1,973,470 people and the metro area about 3,000,000. It sits 1,312 metres above sea level on the Karaj River, and it is the capital of Alborz Province, Alborz County and the Central District.
The earliest evidence of settlement at Karaj dates to the Bronze Age, at Tepe Khurvin, and the city developed under the Safavid and Qajar dynasties, which left historical buildings and memorials here. Karaj grew rapidly in the 20th century as Tehran expanded, and it is now effectively part of Greater Tehran, joined to the capital by motorway and metro.
Today Karaj is nicknamed Little Iran, because after Tehran it is the most immigrant-friendly city in the country, with people from every region. It is known for its trees, rivers and green plains, for the Amir Kabir Dam on the Karaj River, and as the start of the Chalus Road, the scenic mountain road that runs north to the Caspian Sea.
What Karaj is known for
- Little Iran
- Chalus Road
- Amir Kabir Dam
- Karaj River
- Bagh-e Irani
- Alborz Province capital
Landmarks
- Amir Kabir Dam
- Chalus Road
- Karaj River
- Bagh-e Irani (Iran Garden)
- Morvarid Palace
- Tepe Khurvin
- Alborz Mountains
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Karaj?
About 1.6 million people live in Karaj (1,592,492 in the 2016 census). The wider urban area had about 2 million people, and the metro area about 3 million. That makes Karaj the fourth-most populous city in Iran, after Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan.
What is Karaj famous for?
Karaj is famous as Little Iran, because people from all over the country have moved here, and as the gateway to the Chalus Road, the mountain road to the Caspian Sea. It is also known for the Amir Kabir Dam, its gardens and green plains, and as the capital of Alborz Province.
Where is Karaj located?
Karaj is in northern Iran, in Alborz Province, about 40 kilometres west of Tehran at the foot of the Alborz mountains. It sits 1,312 metres above sea level on the Karaj River, on the road from Tehran to the Caspian Sea. Its coordinates are 35.83° N, 50.97° E.
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Keep exploring
- Iran — the country Karaj is in
- Tehran — another city in Iran
- Mashhad — another city in Iran
- Isfahan — another city in Iran
- All cities in Iran
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.