The Historic Background of Lorestan Province: The signs left over from  the prehistoric residents of Lorestan shows that these communities gradually passed their cultural evolution such as Paleolithic Midlithic  Neolithic  and urban life according to archeology Lorestan province is one of the important historical centers .

since late Plastosen era[the fourth round of geology]has had an agreeable climate conditions in addition to proper environmental conditions there are God’s gifts such as ;plenty of water ,adequate food and great amount of fuel are the elements of human’s deployment on this land.

The oldest signs of sparse groups of people’s life in Lorestan have been found some where locally called Polbarik[the narrow bridge]on the bank of Seimareh  river .

some researchers estimate that the age of evidence  goes back before that era ,in eras after the culture of Asholin. there were also caves and shelters of homian1and2 [based on residence background and the discovered tools belonging to about  40 to 100,000 years ago and the paintings on the rocks of cave are attributed to human groups 15,000 to 17,000 years ago]Mirmelas 11000 to 16000 years ago .

Kanji[the discovered tools in this cave are connected to the  oldest hunting and food collecting time about 100,000 years ago.]Ghar-Arjaned[the shelter of 2 cultural eras in a row of Mostrin and Baradostin,Yafteh[Baradostin era]Eshkaft Ghamary[Mostrin era]Pasangar and… .

some signs and evidence of human’s deployment have been found that includes a long period of hunting and food colleting time .Lorestan is one of few lands whose residence were the first who domesticated animals, cultivated plants and the inaugurators of agricultural and rural life.

This upheaval caused the emergence of civilization .the linguistic and cultural investigations show the connections between Lorish tribes with other Iranian tribes especially pars tribe  .Lors are the oldest aria tribes of Iran who have been living in west and south west and at the foot of Zagros range of mountains since the past eras.

The Geographical Situation of the Province:Lorestan Province is about 28064 square kilometers which makes 1.7 percent of Iran’s area and located in southwest of Iran at longitude 46 degrees and 50 minutes to 50 degrees.1 minute and at latitude 32 degrees,40 minutes to 34 degrees,23minutes of Greenwich  meridian.

This province has borders with Markazi and Hamedan provinces in the north and in the south Khozestan,in the west Kermanshah and Ilam, in the east Esfahan and it bridges these provinces. based on the latest country’s divisions ,it has 10 cities,23 towns 26 districts and 83 villages.
Weather condition:Lorestan province is located on the Zagross mountain range’s foothills, and is influenced by Mediterranean Weather conditions.

it is neighbor to Khuzestan plain in the south, and Hamedan Province chilly altitudes in the north, which has in turn diversified the weather conditions in this province.Regions that have warm weather conditions like southern Iran: city of Poldokhtar and part of Kouhdasht Regions that have moderate climate like central Iran: A major part of Khorramabad ,Doreh chegeni,and part of Kouhdasht Regions that maintain a cold climate like northern Iran: cities of Boroujerd, Azna,Aligoudarz,Doroud,Selseleh and DelfanTourism in Lorestan:With more than 2500 registered historical and natural sites, Lorestan province ranks first in the country in regard to the quantity of these sites.

This province’s background is as long as the history of mankind ,and its exclusive features such as its particular geographical position, different weather conditions in four seasons of the year, it’s location in the Zagross mountains  region, its numerous historical and natural sites including ancient castles, ancient and natural caves, permanent rivers, mirages, waterfalls, mountainous  lakes, beautiful marshes, high altitude mountains, different types of trees and plants ,ancient hills, historical bridges, and a variety of tribes with different customs and traditions have led to a highly appropriate grounds for growth and development of tourism industry in this region.

Historical Castles:Falak-ol-Aflak Castle; Koohzad Castle; Brick-Made Minare; Historical caves:Kalmakareh Cave; Koogan Cave; Barfi Tunnel(Snow Tunnel)Historical Bridges:Kashkan Bridge; Khorramabad Shapouri Bridge(Shekasteh Bridge) ; Kalhor Bridge; Gavmishan Bridge; Lakes:Gahar lake; Kiew Lake; Waterfalls:Shevi  Waterfall (Tele zang),Bisheh  Waterfall; Aab sefid Waterfall; Warak Waterfall; Afrineh Waterfall; Chekan Waterfall; Greet Waterfall; Nojian Waterfall; Water:Lorestan province maintains the highest rainfall across the nation, following the three Northern provinces, such that the average annual rainfall, nationwide, is nearly 252 millimeters, and the average annual rainfall in Lorestan reaches nearly 580 millimeters.

This level of rainfall, coupled with mountainous topography and appropriate climate has led to development of one of the most enriched river networks with a total of 30 permanent rivers, with a total length of 2,450 kilometers. Meanwhile, with the consideration of the waters entering this province from the adjacent provinces, and the following the deduction of the consumptions, this enriched river network discharges a  staggering volume of 13bn cubic meters of water behind Dez and Kharkheh dams. This volume of water is equivalent to 11% of the overall volume of national currents of water.

Moreover given the existence of geological configurations in this province, and the presence of 3,500 kilometers of alluvial basins, Lorestan has reserved nearly 5.3bn cubic meters of subterranean waters. Out of the overall capacity of the province, almost 2bn cubic meters of water is consumed in the agriculture sector with a 35% output and efficiency.Agriculture in Lorestan:Ample water resources ,fertile soil, specific and appropriate geographical conditions, coupled with young, educated and cheap workforce have turned Lorestan province into an appropriate location for investment in the agriculture sector, such that the potential investors in this sector can enjoy a high investment output and a swift return of their capital through the appropriate management of these advantages.Farming:The overall area covered by farmlands in this province totals 768924 hectares, of which 25% are irrigated and 75% are covered by dry farming.

Meanwhile , given the ample water recourses in this province. The dry farmed lands can be irrigated, thereby shaping a major development in this sector; the impact of which will be significant on other sectors, including preparation of orchard and farm products. Horticulture:Almost 54944 hectares of provincial farmlands are orchard, out of which over 200,000 tons of orchard products are reaped per annum.

Based on forecasts, this rate of production is expected to rise to more than 260,000 tons per annum. The most important provincial orchard products include pomegranates, figs, apples, apricots, and walnuts. Note that the best quality and premium pomegranates and figs are produced in this province.

Livestock and poultry:Lorestan province possesses 6 million livestock, with an average of 237 livestock per kilometer, thereby ranking first in the country in regard to number livestock.

Fisheries and Aquatics:Presence of more than 2,450 kilometers of rivers, 7134 spring openings, 5368 deep and semi-deep wells, and 1487 aqueducts has turned Lorestan into an appropriate location for pisci-culture. With production of 98 million trout fish per year, this province ranks first nationwide in this regard, among non-coastal provinces, currently the annual production of fish in this province stands at over14, 750 tons.

Forests and meadows:The overall natural recourses area of this province is 2100816 hectares of which 883503 are covered by meadows and 1,1217313 hectares are forests.Lorestan province industrial Sector:Lorestan province industrial and mine sector is influenced by multiple enriched underground resources; a variety of crops; large-scale animal husbandry, fuel and appropriate energies, and specialized workforce, which set the stage for significant growth and development.

1619 large, medium and small industrial units are located in Lorestan province; totaling 2.13% of the total number of industrial units throughout Iran.A number of large and small units in this province are: Lorestan petrochemical unit ,Doroud Cement Co., Iran Alloy ,Azna Steel, Boroujerd textile Co., Gohar Food industries, Bayer Aflak pharmaceuticals, Iran Milk industries(private joint stock) Part Laban, Ethylic Alcohol  Production Cooperative, Bisheh Mineral Water, Lorestan Polyester ,Exir Pharmaceuticals ,Jam tile ,Saman kashI, Lorestan Industrial and Hydrated Lime Co. etc. Mine section:Lorestan province has more than 112 active mines, nearly 5 billion tons of reserves, 5276397 tons can be extracted now, and 2 million block tons of stones are being extracted. These figures make lorestan province be one of the most incomparable one not in the country but also in the world. Lorestan province producing 1.2% of the world decorative stones & 14 % of the country stone occupies the second place in Iran.

450 stone factories are in the province, 20 of these are equipped with the most modern global stone-cutting technologies, and 100 of them have most modern national equipments.Using specialized personnel, modern equipment and technology and cheap labor force, manufacturing and export units of the province can deliver types of orders with very good quality and competitive price in various sizes to the customers as quickly as possible.

Lorestan stone production is being exported to Persian Gulf countries, Europe, Africa, and common wealth countries and Lorestan stone society is the most powerful one in the country.

Industrial and commercial management of the province really supports investment ad survey in decreasing wastes, recycling, packing, transportation and building export terminals.
The Background of Trade in Lorestan: Lorestan with a glorious history and several thousand year civilization, the land of elevated people of Kasy tribe, is the one that dominated inter rivers for about 6 centuries and established the industry and knowledge of making bronze armor and tools, raising horses cultivating edible seeds etc. After the entrance of Aryan people to this territory it was known as the main path and it developed some great cities like Simash Khaydalo and Madacto in itself.

Before Islam eras Lorestan with centralization of Khorramabad was considered the throne of small Atabakan Lor and Valian and it has had a key role of political, economical and social situations of Iran.

Lorestan has always been of the main trading terminals of Iran, since there were so many demands from all around Iran for animal  husbandry , agricultural and handicrafts products , on the other hand  the consuming items of Lorestan tribes and villagers were provided from markets of important cities of province especially Khorram abad and Boroujerd .

This caused the progress of commercial and trading in this region. A great part of the agricultural products of this area was the most consuming items of other parts of Iran and fulfilled a remarkable percentage of the population’s needs such as;  wheat, barley, rice, cultivating of summer crops grains ,vegetables fruits, Tobacco, corn, cotton and grenadine.

A variety of animal products like meat, cheese, pelt especially animal fat and wool was famous too. A part from those, raising sheep, cows, horses and mules is a part of exporting items of lorestan. In the field of industry there were activities like; blacksmithing, copper smiting, zinc smiting, saddlery, lock smiting .felting, pack saddle making , carpentry, stone engraving, horse shoe making,Bed spread making. Dealing in rice, Brieck burning was done in other city centers of Lorestan. Flowery cotton cloth, brass ware in Boroujerd and the well knownespadrills locally called (Azhieh) ,rugs (Ghali Loei)bed spreads(|Mashteh)made at Weaving workshops in Khorramabad  are the best quality handicrafts which have so many demands from different parts of Iran. Other exporting goods of Lorestan in old days were salt, charcoal, otter’s skin, the wood for making pipes, oak, tragacanth, cinnamon, opium, some herbs and sap.

Today industrialists,traders, merchants and economic activists have gathered since 1374(1995)pivot on khorramabad Chamber of Commerce, Industries ,Mines and Agriculture to take steps toward developing and exalting of this archaic territory by endeavoring and unflagging.