Astara

Iran, Iran

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Astara is a small coastal city in Gilan Province, Iran, located on the Caspian Sea and on the border with the Republic of Azerbaijan, serving as the capital of Astara County.

It lies just south of the smaller Azeri town of Astara across the Astara River, together forming a divided twin‑city straddling the Iran–Azerbaijan frontier. The town is an important regional trade and border‑crossing point between Iran and the Caucasus, with a humid subtropical climate, lush green surroundings, and easy access to both the sea and nearby mountains.

Astara is mainly inhabited by Azeri and Talysh communities, with Azeri and Persian commonly spoken, and it offers a mix of modest markets, mild seashore scenery, and nearby natural attractions such as the misty Heyran Pass, dense Hyrcanian forests, and several waterfalls and wetlands used for hiking and birdwatching.