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Rasht
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<p>Rasht is a city in the <a href="/facts/Central_District_(Rasht_County)/1n4955l0">Central District</a> of <a href="/facts/Rasht_County/GnD0JpkJ">Rasht County</a>, <a href="/facts/Gilan_province/C0czQyXI">Gilan</a> province, Iran, serving as the capital of the province, the county, and the district. The city is also known as the "City of Rain" (<i>Shahr-e Bārān</i>). With a population of 679,995 in 2016, it is the most populous city in <a href="/facts/Northern_Iran/rRHpwcG0">northern Iran</a>. </p><p>Rasht is the largest city on Iran's <a href="/facts/Caspian_Sea/Ymc08gkR">Caspian Sea</a> coast. Due to being between the coast and the mountains, the local environment is rainy with a <a href="/facts/Humid_subtropical_climate/vr1kMhwS">humid subtropical</a> climate. It also has a <a href="/facts/Temperate_rainforest/8BMvlVUN">temperate rainforest</a> to its south, in contrast to the rest of Iran, which is mostly arid. </p><p>It is a major trade center between <a href="/facts/Caucasus/sE8P8Ejg">Caucasia</a>, <a href="/facts/Russia/jfkCwyxn">Russia</a>, and Iran, using the port of <a href="/facts/Bandar-e_Anzali/oSuJMqnG">Bandar-e Anzali</a>. Rasht is also a major tourist center with the resort of <a href="/facts/Masouleh/M6aLl7Mg">Masouleh</a> in the adjacent mountains and the beaches of Caspian as some of the major attractions. </p><p>Historically, Rasht was a major transport and business center which connected Iran to Russia and the rest of Europe, and because of this it was known as the "Gate of Europe". The city has a history that goes back to the 13th century, but its modern history dates back to the <a href="/facts/Safavid/WPHAaz8e">Safavid</a> era during which Rasht was a major center of the silk trade with numerous textile workshops. In 2015, this city joined the network of creative cities of the world as a creative <a href="/facts/Gastronomy/FRqL0Brm">gastronomy</a> city under the supervision of <a href="/facts/UNESCO/QSbkRv3o">UNESCO</a>. </p><p>Some of the famous neighbourhoods of Rasht include Golsar, Safsar, Kordmahaleh and Khamiran. </p>