Yazd

Yazd
یزد
Kath, Isatis
Yazd
Coordinates: 31°52′56″N 54°20′23″E / 31.88222°N 54.33972°E / 31.88222; 54.33972
CountryIran
ProvinceYazd
CountyYazd
DistrictCentral
Government
  MayorAbolghasem Mohiodini Anari
  City Council ChairmanGholam Hossein Dashti
Elevation
1,216 m (3,990 ft)
Population
 (2016)
  Total
529,673
  Population Rank in Iran
15th
DemonymYazdi (en)
Time zoneUTC+3:30 (IRST)
Area code035
ClimateBWh
Websiteyazd.ir
Official nameHistoric City of Yazd
TypeCultural
Criteriaiii, v
Designated2017 (41st session)
Reference no.1544
RegionAsia and the Pacific

Yazd (Persian: یزد; [jæzd] ) is a city in the Central District of Yazd County, Yazd province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. At the 2016 census, its population was 529,673. Since 2017, the historical city of Yazd is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Because of generations of adaptations to its desert surroundings, Yazd is known for its Persian architecture. It is nicknamed the "City of Windcatchers" (شهر بادگیرها Shahr-e Badgirha) from its many examples. It is also very well known for its Zoroastrian fire temples, ab anbars (cisterns), qanats (underground channels), yakhchals (coolers), Persian handicrafts, handwoven cloth (Persian termeh), silk weaving, Persian cotton candy, and its time-honored confectioneries. Yazd is also known as City of Bicycles, because of its early adoption of cycling, and its boasting the highest number of bicycles per capita in Iran. It is reported that bicycle culture in Iran originated in Yazd as a result of contact with European visitors and tourists in the nineteenth century.