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'Gonbad-e Qābus' (Persian:گنبدقابوس) or 'Gonbad-e Kāvus' (Persian:گنبدكاووس) (also transcribed ''Gonbad-e Ghābus'' or ''Gonbad-i Ghāboos'') is a city in the province of Golestan in Iran. It had an estimated population of 135,868 in 2005.[1]
The city is famous for a historic brick tower by the same name.

Contents

About Tower

Historical Attractions

Turkoman Horse

Sports

Natural Attractions

Colleges and universities

See Also

External links

About Tower

The Tower in central part of city reaches about 70 meters (230ft) (including the height of the platform), it is the world's tallest brick tower, and is almost 1000 years old.
The tomb, built of baked brick, is an enormous cylinder capped by a conical roof. The circular plan, broken by 10 flanges, is 17 m in diameter, and with 3 metre thick walls.
Also, the Tower was built on such a scientific and mathematical design that at the front of the Tower, at an external circle, man can hear his/her reflected echo.
Built in 1006 CE by the orders of the Ziyarid Amir ''Shams ol-Ma'āli Qabus ibn Wushmgir'' (شمس المعالي قابوس بن وشمگير), it is located 3 km north of the ancient city of ''Jorjan'', from where the Ziyarid dynasty ruled.
Legend has it that the Sultan's body was put in a glass coffin and was suspended from the ceiling of the tower. The interiors contain the earliest examples of Muqarnas decorative styles.
A Kufic inscription at the bottom of the tower reads in Arabic:
هذا القصر العالي – لامير شمس المعالي – الامير قابوس ابن وشمگير – امر به بنائه في حياته – سنه سبع و تسعين – و ثلثمائه قمريه و سنه خمس و سبعين و ثلثمائه شمسيه
:"This great monument, was built for Amir Shams ul-Ma'ali, Amir Qabus ibn Wushmgir, by his command, during his life, in the year 397 After Hijrah of the lunar calendar, and year 375 of the solar calendar"
The inscription verifies that the tower was built as a tomb for the named Ziyarid ruler .
Iran plans to submit the tower to UNESCO for registration as a World Heritage Site, for the tower's upcoming 1000th anniversary.
Gonbad-e Qābus or Gonbad-e Kāvus (also transcribed Gonbad-e Ghābus or Gonbad-i Ghāboos) is a city in the province of Golestan in Iran.
The city tower was made with brick representing a special art related to the 4th century. This tower which is on a dome of 15 hight is located in the one of the principal park of Gonbad Kavoos city.

Historical Attractions

Gorgân's Defense Wall (155 km long and 6 to 10 m wide) is one of the most outstanding and gigantic architectural monuments in Dashte Gorgan and Gonbad Steppes (Gorgan Plain) history. This wall, which is the largest defensive wall in the world after the Great Wall of China, starts from the Caspian coast, circles north of Gonbade Kavous, continues towards the northwest, and vanishes behind the Pishkamar Mountains. A logistical archaeological survey was conducted regarding the wall in 1999 due to problems in development projects, especially during construction of the Golestan Dam, which irrigates all the areas covered by the wall. At the point of the connection of the wall and the drainage canal from the dam, architects discovered the remains of the above wall. At parts, this wall is 6 m wide and in other parts the width is 10 m, which proves that the thickness of the wall differs in various regions, according to the natural features and soil configuration. Castles have been built at different distances. The longest distance between castles is 50 km and the shortest is 10 km.The 40 identified castles vary in dimension and shape but the majority are square fortresses. Due to many difficulties in development and agricultural projects, archaeologists have been assigned to mark the boundary of the historical find by laying cement blocks. The Gorgan Wall has been named Alexander Dam, Anushirvân Dam, Firuz Dam and Qazal Al'an in various historical texts. Dr. Kiani who led the archeological team in 1971 believes that the wall was built during the Parthian dynasty simultaneously with the construction of the Great Wall of China and it was restored during the Sassanid era (3-7th c. A.D.).

Turkoman Horse

The Turkoman horse, or Turkmene, was an ancient breed from Turkmenistan, now extinct. Modern representatives include the Akhal-Teke and the Yamud. Horses bred in the area are still referred to as Turkoman, and have similar characteristics. They have been influential in many breeds, including the Thoroughbred.
The Turkoman horse has an extremely slender body, similar to a greyhound. Although they may look weak, the breed is actually one of the toughest in the world. They have a straight profile, long neck, and sloping shoulders. Their back is long, with sloping quarters and a tucked up abdomen. They have long and muscular legs.
The coat of a Turkomen horse can be of any color, and usually possesses a metallic glow to it. The horses range from 15-16 hh.
The horses are raised in an unusual manner, with the mares kept in semi-wild herds that have to fend for themselves against the weather and predators, finding their own food. Colts are caught at six months, when their training begins. The colts are kept on long tethers, usually for life. At only eight months of age, they are saddled and ridden by young and lightweight riders, racing on the track by the time they are one. The horses are bred for racing, and are quite talented.
The Turkomen horses are fed a special high-protein diet of broiled chicken, barley, dates, raisins, alfalfa, and mutton fat. They wear thick felt blankets to cause sweating on hot days, keeping them lean and free from body fat.
The horses have incredible stamina. They have free-flowing movement and a good temperament.

Sports

Volleyball is the most popular sport in the gonbad-e qabus.
The other popular sports is Horse Racing , Football , ...

Natural Attractions

★ Golestan Forest,جنگل گلستان

★ chehelchay Forest,تنگه چهل چاي

★ امامزاده يحيي بن زيد

★ آق امام

★ Horse Racing Center,مجموعه اسبدواني گنبد

Colleges and universities

★ Islamic Azad Univercity of Gonbad

★ Payamnoor Univercity of Gonbad

★ دانشكده كشاورزي گنبدكاووس

See Also

★ Iran

★ Golestan Province

★ Turkmen

External links

★ Iran plans to begin preservation work on the tower.