page_title: Ilam Province
section_title: Nature conservatories
hierarchical_section_title: Ilam Province / Geography / Nature conservatories
caption_attribution_description: Arghavan valley
context_page_description: Ilam Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is located in the western part of the country, sharing 425 km of border with Iraq, and also bordering on the provinces of Kermanshah, Lorestan, and Khuzestan. The largest city and also the provincial capital is the city of Ilam with a population 194,030. As of 2016 census, the population of the province was 580,158 people and is the least populated province in Iran. Majority of the population, about 80%, speak dialects of Kurdish, 10% speak Luri and 6% Laki.
  Since 1937, Ilam was a part of the Kermanshah province. In 1974, parts of Lorestan and Khuzestan were added to Ilam governorate-general to create the current Ilam province. Although established less than 50 years ago, Ilam province's history goes back to millennia ago. This region of Iran was part of the civilization of Elam from 2700 to 539 BC. The modern name of the province comes from the same origin.
  For around a thousand years, Ilam was controlled by Kurds and Lurs: From 961 to 1140 CE, Kurds such as Hasanwayhid and Annazids dynasties ruled; From 1184 to 1597, it was controlled by Little Lor dynasty; and, from 1597 to 1928 by Vali, another Lor dynasty.
context_section_description: About 13% of the total territory of Ilam province is under the protection and monitoring of local and national natural reserves organizations. There are four protected areas, which in total, cover 1,377 km² (532 sq mi):
  In addition to the protected areas mentioned above, there is:
  "Tang-e Bina and Bijar" hunting prohibited area: around 500 km² (190 sq mi) in area, near Chavar;
  "Arghavan Valley forest reserve" near Ilam city: known for its pink spring blossoms of Judas tree; and,
  "Largh forest reserve": known for its Pterocarya fraxinifolia trees. These trees are usually found in the rain forests of Northern Iran, but surprisingly grow in this small patch of land in "Lart Valley" near Badreh.
  And two nationally registered natural heritage sites:
  Razyaneh Canyon: a deep and narrow canyon carved by streams in the rock beds near Chenar Bashi, 10 to 30 m (33 to 98 ft) deep, 2 to 10 m (6.6 to 32.8 ft) in width, 1.5 km (0.93 mi) long; and,
  Dehloran: an 1,400 ha (3,500 acres) area near Dehloran that includes hot water and bitumen springs, as well as 'bat caves'.
caption: Arghavan valley near Ilam
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