Lorestan Province

Lorestan Province (Lurestaan or Luristan or Loristan) ( استان لرستان), comprises a province and a historic territory of western Iran amidst the Zagros (زاگرس) Mountains. The population of Lorestan is calculated 1.754 million people in 2011.

Lorestan covers an area of 28,392 km². The major cities in this province are: Borujerd (بروجرد), Khorramabad (خرم آباد), Aligoodarz (اليگودرز), Dorood (دورود), Koohdasht (Kuhdasht) (کوهدشت), Azna, Alashtar (الشتر), Noor Abad (نورآباد), and Pol-e-Dokhtar (پلدختر).

Geography and climate
The name Lorestan means “land of the Lurs”, and in the wider sense consists of that part of western Iran coinciding with the province of Ilam (ایلام) and extending for about 400 miles on a northwest to southeast axis from Kermanshah (كرمانشاه) to Fars (استان فارس), with a breadth of 100 to 140 miles. The terrain consists chiefly of mountains, with numerous ranges, part of the Zagros chain, running northwest to southeast. The central range has many summits which almost reach the line of perpetual snow, rising to 13,000 feet and more, and it feeds the headwaters of Iran’s most important rivers, such as the Zayandeh rud (Zayandeh-Rood or Zayanderood) (زاینده رود) , Jarahi, Karun (کارون), Dix, Abi, Karkheh (کرخه). Between the higher ranges lie many fertile plains and low hilly, well-watered districts.

The highest point of the province is Oshtoran Kooh (Oshtorankuh) (اشترانکوه) peak at 4,050 m. The low-lying areas being in the southern most sector of the province, are approximately 500 m above sea level.

The climate is generally sub-humid continental with winter precipitation, a lot of which falls as snow (Köppen Csa). Because it lies on the westernmost slopes of the Zagros Mountains, annual precipitation in Lorestan is among the highest anywhere in Iran south of the Alborz Mountains. At Khorramabad, the average annual precipitation totals 530 millimetres (21 inches) of rainfall equivalent, whilst up to 1270 millimetres (50 inches) may fall on the highest mountains. The months June to September are usually absolutely dry, but Khorramabad can expect 4 inches of rainfall equivalent in December and January.

Temperatures vary widely with the seasons and between day and night. At Khorramabad, summer temperatures typically range from a minimum of 12°C (54°F) to a hot maximum of 32°C (90°F). In winter, they range from a minimum of -2°C (28°F) to a chilly maximum of 8°C (46°F).