Varzaqan

For the administrative division of East Azerbaijan province, see Varzaqan County. For the village in Mianeh County, see Varzeqan.

Varzaqan Persian: ورزقان‎‎
City
Gol Akhur waterfall Gol Akhur waterfall
Country	Iran
Province	East Azerbaijan
County	Varzaqan
District	Central
Population (2016)
• Total	5,348
Time zone	IRST (UTC+3:30)
Website	www.varzeqan.com

Varzaqan (Persian: ورزقان‎‎) is a city in the Central District of Varzaqan County East Azerbaijan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. It is also the administrative center for Ozomdel-e Jonubi Rural District.

At the 2006 census, its population was 3,549 in 930 households. The following census in 2011 counted 5,385 people in 1,392 households. The latest census in 2016 showed a population of 5,348 people in 1,401 households.

The city is famous for the Sungun copper mine, 25 km from the city centre, which is estimated to have 3 percent of the known copper reserves in the world.

Historical landmark

The cuneiform inscription in the village of Saqandel is the most famous historical monument in the region.

Earthquakes

Main article: 2012 East Azerbaijan earthquakes

The area is subject to earthquakes, and in 2012 a number of people were killed when an earthquake doublet (magnitude 6.4 and 6.3) struck on the afternoon of 11 August.

Economy

Farming is the predominant occupation in the rural areas. The area produces apple, pear, cherry, walnut and apricot fruit. Recently spruce trees have been planted as the start of a forestry industry. Cold water fish farming has been started.

Varzaqan is a mining centre for base metal mining, as well as gold. The Sungun copper mine is now the largest copper mine in northwestern Iran. The deposit itself is one of the largest copper deposits in the world. There are nearby gold mines at Sharafabad, Hyzjan, Tshkhsrv, Astrgan, Andaryan and Myvhrvd.