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Larestan, Laristan بر فارس، فارس، جهانگيريه، ايراهستان، لارستان، اچمستانJahangirih, Irahestan, South of Fars | |
|---|---|
_-_Geographicus_-_RegnumPersicum-ottens-1730.jpg) A European map from 1730, where it shows Larestan located in the shores of the Persian Gulf, between Kerman and Fars. | |
| Area | |
• Total | 45,000 km2 (17,000 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,000,000 (In Larestan only) |
Larestan orLaristan (Persian: لارستان) is a region in the south ofIran, located in the west ofHormozgan, south ofFars, and south ofBushehr province. It is predominantly inhabited by theLaris,Baluchis,Kurds,Arabs, and theQashqai. Larestanis are about 1,000,000 living in Larestan with an estimated 2,000,000 Larestanis living inArab states of the Persian Gulf, due to extensive immigration occurring in the 19th and 20th century for better job opportunities and a better life.
According toAnthropological study of Iran from 1939, the population ofLaristan as a whole has been estimated at about 90,000 inhabitants. Meanwhile, those living on the coast line were said to be to a great extentArabs, while thefarmers are principallyPersians [Iranis].[1]: 228–229
In the 1970s, the population of Larestan was recorded at 183,369, with the current estimate being around half a million.[2] The region is predominantly inhabited byLaris, along withBaluchis,Kurds,Arabs, and the Turkic-speakingQashqais from theKhamseh tribal confederation.[2] Historically, Laristan has also seen settlements by Mongol, Turkmen, and Uzbek ethnic groups.[2] Additionally, Jewish communities of craftsmen and traders were present, especially in Lar city. Lar played a significant role in the Judeo-Persian literary tradition, with texts in Judeo-Persian produced there, marking it as one of the medieval centers for this writing tradition (Loeb 1970: 31 ff.).[2]
The main language spoken in Larestan is known asLarestani or Achomi or Khodemooni. It is southwestern Iranian language and a descendant of Middle Persian. It has few Arabic loanwords and much purer thanPersian. It has at least five dialects that are Lari, Bastaki, Khonji, Evazi, Gerashi.[3][4]