Zaranj
زرنج Zarange | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 30°57′36″N 61°51′36″E / 30.96000°N 61.86000°E | |
Country | Afghanistan |
Province | Nimruz Province |
District | Zaranj District |
Government | |
• Mayor | Maulvi Nooruddin Hamza[2] |
Elevation | 476 m (1,562 ft) |
Population (2015) | |
• City | 49,851 |
• Urban | 160,902[3] |
Time zone | UTC+4:30 |
Zaranj (Persian/Pashto/Balochi: زرنج) is a city in southwestern Afghanistan, which has a population of 160,902 people as of 2015.[4] It is the capital of Nimruz Province and is linked by highways with Lashkargah and Kandahar to the east, Farah to the north and the Iranian city of Zabol to the west.
The Abresham border crossing is located to the west of Zaranj, on the Afghanistan–Iran border.[5][1][6] It is one of three important trade-routes that connect Central Asia, East Asia and South Asia with the Middle East.[7] Zaranj Airport is located some 13 miles (21 km) to the east of the city.
The history of Zaranj dates back over 2500 years and Ya'qub ibn al-Layth al-Saffar, founder of the Saffarid dynasty, was born in this old civilization.